“Think she’s so bad as that?” said Jared.
“Oh! yes; her poor little bones show so dreadfully. I don’t think she’s neglected, for Ruggles is too good-hearted for that; but that horrid woman would almost keep her from getting well. Now, if we had her with ours, and—”
“Didn’t you say the collector called to-day?” said Jared.
“Yes,” said his wife;—“had her here with ours, and Patty and I attended well to her, she might get through the winter, and—what did you say?”
“I didn’t speak,” said Jared. “I was only thinking about the rent.”
“And, besides,” said Mrs Jared, “as she is so young—”
“How much would a pair of boots cost for Totty?” said Jared.
“Really, it is too bad!” exclaimed Mrs Jared; “and I can’t help thinking about the poor little thing.”
“And how well and hearty our own are, even if we are poor,” said Jared.
So Mrs Jared sighed, and contrived to put a patch on the side of Totty’s boots, and they lasted another week.