"Perhaps it will be better than deciding at once that you will take this chance of getting on," said Mrs. Brown.
But it was easy to see that she would be greatly disappointed if Jack decided against it.
When the lad had gone up to bed, Brown spoke of this.
"Better let him think it out for himself, and count the cost," he said. "Book-learning he don't like, as you know; and he must decide for himself whether he will take the trouble to overcome this dislike, or whether he will jog along as most of the men do. He has got to live his own life, and must decide this question for himself. Many a man quite as good as I am would not take my job, even if they could, because of the responsibility of the thing. I will talk to Jack about it while we are away; but I shall not say a word to persuade him either way, for I don't think that would be fair. As Jack did not leave your letter for Fanny, don't you think you might go over and see her yourself, mother?" he suddenly broke off. "You know, I meant to go to-day, and clear some of the cobweb out of the silly girl's head; but as I couldn't go, and Jack managed to miss her, well, I think it will be better for you to go when you can manage the walk."
"Yes, it will be best, certainly," assented Mrs. Brown, who was wondering where Fanny could have gone when she went out to tea, and how she could have heard that her father was ill before it happened.
The next morning Brown seemed quite recovered, and he and Jack went off by the early train with the others. As soon as breakfast was over, and the girls gone to school, Mrs. Brown went to see Jessie, and hear what they were going to do about her mother's funeral.
She was afraid no provision had been made in any way, and was not surprised to find Jessie in tears, and to hear her say—
"Father is in an awful way about the funeral, Mrs. Brown. He doesn't know what to do, or which way to turn."
"Your mother did not belong to a club or anything of that sort?"
"Mother didn't. She never could save; and father knew it, so he joined a club where they make some sort of allowance when a wife dies. But he hasn't kept this paid up, and unless he can clear the books this morning before twelve o'clock, we shan't get a penny, and mother will have to be buried by the parish." And Jessie burst into tears again at the thought of such an indignity as a parish funeral for her mother.