"Mother's medicine basket" was a joke in the family; for the doctor often asked for beef-tea and jelly to be made for his poorer patients, and this was generally taken by Mrs. Perceval in a basket that was more convenient than elegant; so that Edward might be excused for a shrug of the shoulders, at the suggestion of carrying mother's basket to Fairfield and back.
But Herbert was too anxious to see this unknown Mrs. Winn, and so he said, promptly enough, "I will carry the basket, if you will allow me, for I hope you will let me go and see this lady."
"Would you know her, do you think?" asked Mrs. Perceval.
For Mrs. Winn had told her that she had had no communication with her sister since she had been married.
Herbert shook his head dubiously. "I have never seen her," he said; "but if she is like my mother, I should know her at once."
"Very well; you and Edward shall take charge of Mrs. Perceval, and walk to Fairfield after tea; and I hope it may prove that this lady is your relative, for she stands in great need of a friend just now," said Dr. Perceval.
So mother's basket was packed with dainties, likely to tempt the appetite of an invalid, and the boys were ready to quarrel as to who should carry it, in spite of its weight and want of elegance; but they were willing to take it in turns before they had walked very far.
Mrs. Perceval told Herbert all she knew about the family who had come to Fairfield as strangers a few months before; and what a brave struggle Mrs. Winn had made to maintain her family, until her eldest was taken ill, and then she seemed to be quite crushed with the hopelessness of all the efforts she was likely to be able to make here.
"If she should prove to be your aunt, I am sure it will be quite a providence for the poor thing. For the letter she sent to her sister was returned a day or two ago, marked 'not known.'"
"Perhaps she did not know that we had moved away from London a long time ago," said Herbert.