"Then," continued Audrey, still more earnestly. "what are we going to do?"
"That is a poser," retorted Edwin. "The storm brought down the ti tree, and that gave us the cabbage. The gale is dying. We had better take a walk round and look about us. We may find something else. Heaven's gate is open still, Audrey. We must bear this as patiently as we can, and help will come."
"Yes, dears," she answered, "if you can be patient here a little longer, I think there is something I can do to help us all."
"You, Audrey?" exclaimed her brothers; "you are as white as a sheet. Let us do; we are twice as strong as you are."
"Strength is not everything," she returned quietly. "There are some things which only a girl can do. Now this is my plan. If Edwin will walk with me to the central station, I will ask Mrs. Feltham to let me help her. I will go for so much a day, and then at night when she pays me I may persuade her to sell me some flour and meat and tea, food enough for us all, dears."
"Go out like a charwoman, Audrey!" exclaimed Edwin, in amazement. "Is that what you mean?"
"Well, yes," returned Audrey, in a considering tone, "it certainly would be the same thing, if you like to call it so."
"'Of old men called a spade a spade,'" grumbled Edwin. "I like to give things their plain names, and then we know where we are."
"If little Mother Audrey goes out charing, Cuth will poison himself, and then there will be no more food wanting for him. That Mrs. Feltham looked as cross as two sticks," declared Cuthbert.
"Just listen to these proud young gentlemen," retorted Audrey. "Erne, my dear, I turn to you to support me."