"I dare say it will be to-morrow," answered Eliza, "because the Vicar likes us to stay at home on Sunday, I know; but if I cannot come then, you may be sure daddy can have his day on Sunday."
Mrs. Brown took Eliza to see Jessie Collins, and the girl was not a little surprised to see the change in Jessie during the time she had been away. Her foot was better now, although she still limped, and was glad to lean on the table or back of a chair as she got about the room. Still, she managed to sweep and dust, and keep the hearth clean and neat, with her father's armchair ready by the side of the fire whenever he should come in.
By degrees the old chair was beginning to do its work, too, for Collins often spent an evening at home now by his own fireside, instead of going off to the public-house as he had done for some months past.
"If ever I do get father back into his old ways, it will be through your help, Mrs. Brown," said Jessie, as she told her that for the last three nights her father had sat in his chair smoking and reading, as he used to do before he took to going out.
"I don't know what we should have done without your mother in our trouble," said Jessie, turning to Eliza. "My mother would have been buried by the parish, and Polly and I could not have had a bit of mourning for her. Father often talks about that. He thinks more of what you did to save my mother from a parish funeral than anything else you have done, though he likes to see us in our black frocks and hats, looking like decent girls, he says."
Eliza nestled up to her mother's side, looking up at her with affectionate pride.
"Yes, I know what a dear mother she is," she said.
"You and Fanny ought to be proud of her," said Jessie.
"Oh, we are! we are!" said Eliza, warmly; but still she was very glad that somebody else should learn to appreciate her mother; and she talked to Jessie about her visit to the seaside, and explained how it was she and Master Eustace were shut up in the cave. The two girls had a very pleasant hour together, until it was time to go and meet Minnie and Selina coming out of school, and to see her teacher once more.
Mrs. Brown intended to write her letter to Fanny so that she might have it some time during the next day, but the business of getting tea ready, and thinking how well Eliza was looking, put it out of her mind, and she did not think of it again until she went to bed. It was too late then, and so it was not until Saturday's work was nearly done that the letter was written, and Selina sent to post it, as she went to meet her father coming from the railway station.