"He might; there is no telling," said Mrs. Brown. "But the poor girls are in need of any help that a friend can give them."
"Yes, I thought that would be the case, and I think Jessie Collins is not so hopelessly naughty as people have thought her," said Miss Martin.
"Naughty!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "People have made a great mistake about Jessie Collins. Of course she was rude and rough from being allowed to run the streets as she has; but underneath this she is a kind-hearted, unselfish girl, and as willing to learn anything I could teach her that would help her mother as my own girls would have been," said Mrs. Brown, warmly.
"I am very glad to hear this," said Miss Martin, "I always liked Jessie, although she was far from being a pattern girl. Still, she was always ready to help anybody in trouble, whether it was a friend of hers or not, and I wondered whether there was anything I could do for them. I have a left-off black dress I could give her, if you think they will not be offended."
"Oh no; I am sure Jessie will be pleased to receive it from you, she has told me about the last talk you had with her, and that you expected her to be a credit to the school, which she is now, I can assure you, for her loving, self-denying care of her mother would be an honour and credit to any girl, though the world may never hear of it. Her father is learning to know her value too, and I hope she may help him to overcome the love of the drink that has taken hold of him lately."
"Yes, I have heard he has been very unsteady," said the teacher, "and this, of course, has made things worse for them at home."
"Yes, it has, and Collins was always such a steady man that people are the more surprised," said Mrs. Brown. "For years and years the poor man has had a miserable home, but he has made the best of it, and never grumbled to the neighbours, though everybody has known for the last year that Mrs. Collins drank more than was good for her, and either could not or would not try to make home comfortable for her husband and children. Things have been going from bad to worse lately, for he lost heart, and took to drink, too, and since her mother's illness the whole burden of keeping the home together has fallen upon Jessie, and every penny Collins can get from his club will be swallowed up in funeral expenses and paying some of the rent that is owing. I said at first the girls might be able to have a new black frock each, but I learned afterwards that it would have to go to the landlord; and so you may be sure how grateful Jessie will be when she hears of your gift."
"Ay, and what of yours?" suddenly asked Miss Martin. "Polly told me this morning that you had given them all the money you had."
"Not given," interposed Mrs. Brown, "only lent until the club money is paid."
"And this must be at a good deal of inconvenience to yourself," said the teacher, quickly, "and so I want you to let me share in this loan. You lent them a pound, let me lend you ten shillings until Collins can repay you."