By the time the cold autumn rains set in, Mrs. Winn had almost lost heart, and was ready to think that her coming to Fairfield had been a grievous mistake, that could only end in failure, after all her efforts.
She went to church on Sunday, and tried to listen to the service, and believe that God still cared for the fatherless and widow, as the Bible taught; but her thoughts would drift away to wondering how the rent was to be paid, and what the baker would say when she told him she had no money to pay his bill.
Then as the weather grew colder, and they needed fires more, they had to do with less; for when their present stock of coals was burnt, they did not know how they were to get any more. And they had to sit huddled over a scrap of fire in the kitchen during the day, and go to bed soon after dusk to save lights and fires.
The only bright spot in the dreary outlook was that Tom might get a scholarship at the forthcoming examination; and this, as Mrs. Winn had learned lately, would be even more valuable than Elsie's, for it would afford Tom board and lodging as well as education at the college.
For Tom's sake, therefore, that he might not be hindered in his book-work, they were obliged to make the best of things, and the change of season brought Mrs. Winn one or two dresses to make.
Mrs. Perceval bought her girls winter dresses, and sent them to the widow to make up at once; and the servants she had worked for in the spring sent her their work again; one lady's maid saying, that her dress was better made than her mistress's, though she had paid three times as much to have it made in London.
This encouraged Mrs. Winn to hope that in time she might be able to get a good business together here in Fairfield, but what was she and her children to do while she was waiting. That was the problem that confronted her continually, and to which she could find no solution, but the practice of such rigid economy, as to make their life one of continual privation. They did not let Tom or the children feel this more than they could help, but upon Elsie and her mother the burden daily grew harder and harder as the weather grew colder, and their need of food and fire greater.
[CHAPTER XV.]
A NEW FRIEND FOR ELSIE.
IT must not be supposed that Elsie's life had been wholly unhappy during this time. At first she missed her girl friends very much, but Tom's memorable fight, which led to her introduction to the schoolmaster's daughter, made a great deal of difference to her in this respect.