"Yes, I believe she told you the truth about the ten shillings," said the Vicar. "But as you were cross with her for giving even that small sum for it, she kept it a secret that she had so much more to pay. What seems to have upset her so much was that these people claimed the whole two pounds she had agreed to pay, without any abatement for the ten shillings she gave the woman when she bought the watch; and she had had the watch nearly six weeks before they called for the first instalment of the two pounds. Then, if you look at this card you will see that they carefully ignore having received anything on account of the payment to be made;" and the Vicar pointed with his finger to the columns where Fanny's payments had been acknowledged and the amount set down as that still owing.
Mrs. Brown heaved a sigh of relief. "Then she really did tell the truth about the ten shillings? Poor silly Fanny? Why didn't she tell us the whole story, and then we might have helped her somehow," said Mrs. Brown.
She did not enter into further particulars with the Vicar; but she could understand how it was that Fanny could not lend her any money, for there was the bitter knowledge of this debt hanging over her always present to her mind, her mother thought.
"My poor foolish girl! If she could only have trusted her mother and father," she exclaimed, tears of pity filling her eyes as she thought of all the needless suffering Fanny had endured.
"Ah," said the Vicar, "I am afraid there are a good many like Fanny among us. If we would only trust the love and care of the great Father of us all, what different men and women we should be. How much happier. How much more ready to help one another." The Vicar talked a little while to Mrs. Brown, and then he told her what was indeed glad news; for he had obtained permission for her and her husband to go and see Fanny the next day. "You will have to obey orders, and wear a wrap that will cover you and keep you from infection. You will also have to wash your face and hands, and rinse your mouth both before you go into the ward and when you come out," said the Vicar. "I had to submit, and I am sure you will be willing for the sake of seeing your child," he added.
"Yes, indeed, sir, I would do anything to see my Fanny again; and I can never be sufficiently grateful to you for all the trouble you have taken for us."
"Well, Mrs. Brown, I think, from all I have heard, that you would have done the same for me or a poorer neighbour. The poor family you have been helping lately would not have accepted help from me—not, at least, such help as I could give, but you have managed to overcome the man's pride and prejudice. You and Miss Martin between you have helped the girl to begin a new life, so that there is more hope for them all now than there ever was before, and it may be we shall see Collins himself coming to church if we are only patient enough to work and wait without trying to hurry things. I met him as I was coming here, on his way back to his work, I expect, and when I lifted my hat, and wished him good afternoon, he positively returned the greeting, and looked pleasantly at me when he did it."
Mrs. Brown smiled. "Ah, the black frock and bits of mourning Mrs. Parsons sent to Jessie pleased her father quite as much as it pleased the girl!" she said. "They had no money they could spend for black things; but with what Miss Martin and Mrs. Parsons and another friend gave them they were able to go into comfortable mourning for their mother, and this respect paid to the memory of his wife has done more to touch Collins than anything else could. And now he has begun to give up the drink again, Jessie hopes to make the home more comfortable for all of them. Do you know, sir, she has gone to work at the blacking factory three days a week? They need extra help there, and Jessie has gone that she may be able to do something towards paying off the debts that have grown to be such a burden to them lately."
"Brave girl!" said the Vicar. "Tell her that we shall all be proud of her yet, and I shall try to get her father to join our men's club when it is open. I can say a good word to him about his daughter, and that will help me to open the subject as soon as things are forward enough."
The Vicar talked thus, thinking it would be good to draw Mrs. Brown's mind away from her own trouble and joy for a little while. But as he was leaving, he said—