Mrs. Brown coloured, but a smile of relief slowly beamed in her face, as she said slowly—
"Oh, ma'am, it's just as though God knew what I wanted, and told you, too. I shall be so grateful if you would lend me ten shillings until Collins gets his money, or until my husband comes home on Saturday."
"Certainly, you shall have it," said Miss Martin. And as she spoke she placed half a sovereign in Mrs. Brown's hand, who was truly thankful for this timely help.
Then she told the teacher of the letter received from Mrs. Parsons concerning Eliza, and the two could rejoice together that the girl was likely to do so well.
Before she went, Miss Martin gave her the black dress for Jessie, and promised to try and get some further help for the girls from a friend, and with this hope to give Jessie Mrs. Brown hurried homewards.
[CHAPTER XIII]
THE TWO FRIENDS
"WELL, I declare! Who'd have thought of seeing you here?"
"I didn't expect to see you," replied Fanny to her new friend, Miriam Jarvis. They had stepped from different train-cars at the terminus a mile or two from where they lived, and came face to face with each other as they were crossing the road. Neither looked very pleased to see the other, and they strolled along side by side in an aimless fashion, until Fanny suddenly said, "Can you tell me where Spring Grove is?"
"Spring Grove?" repeated her friend, looking hard at Fanny. "It is the place I have come to find. Have you come about a watch?" she added quickly.