"It says in the Bible, 'Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God,'" Melina said reflectively. "Are you a Christian, William Jones?" she inquired.
"Not much of one, I'm afraid," he answered, looking rather taken aback at her question.
"I'm not much of one either," she said; "I haven't been one at all very long."
At the corner of Jubilee Terrace they came upon a group of boys, who, the minute they caught sight of Melina, commenced to make disparaging remarks about her. William Jones stopped to remonstrate with them, whilst the little girl walked on. As she paused on the doorstep of her home, she heard a voice inside say:
"You shall have the money next week, Mrs. Berryman, indeed you shall! We've had so much sickness of late, and so many expenses, that—but whatever happens you shall have the money next week!"
An instant later the door opened from within, and a sad-faced young woman with a baby in her arms brushed past Melina and hurried away. Melina was standing looking after her when Mrs. Berryman came out of the parlour.
"What a dawdle you are, child!" the old woman said testily; "come in and shut the door." Then, as her granddaughter obeyed, she took her by the shoulder and pulled her, less roughly than usual, into the kitchen. "Humph! you don't look very well, as Mrs. Jones said," she observed; "I hope you aren't going to be ill."
"I feel quite well, Gran."
"That's right. You were always a thin, peaky little thing, as I told Mrs. Jones. I suppose you're wondering how I came to be talking to her? She called in to see me just now, to invite you to go to Hawmouth with her on Monday."
"Oh, Gran What did you say?"