Kitty could contain herself no longer. With a sudden impulse, she bent down and raised the weeping woman.
"I will do what I can," she said huskily, and sank into a chair.
"Thank God!" cried Mrs. Malton, advancing, but Kitty waved her off, while Meg stood looking from one to the other in amazement.
"Go, go!"
Mrs. Malton bent down and kissed her hand.
"May God be merciful to you, as you have been to me," and, without another word, she departed.
"Mumsey," said Meg, trying to take her mother's hands from her face, "were you cross to the lady?"
"No, darling, no!" replied Kitty, drawing Meg close to her. "Mother was kind to the lady because of her little girl."
"Good mumsey, dear mumsey; Meg loves you," and she put her arms round Kitty's neck, while the poor woman leaned her aching head against the innocent breast of her child, and burst into tears.