“Factory? Father? What do you mean, dear? Has father gone into business for himself? He was a bookkeeper at Dudley and Warner’s when I left.”
“Oh, but he lost that a long, long time ago, after he was sick so long.”
“Father sick? Louie! And I not told?”
“Why, I didn’t know they hadn’t told you. Maybe mother wouldn’t like it——”
“Tell me everything, dear. How long was father sick?”
“About a year. He lost his position, and then wasn’t able to do anything for ever so long; and, when he got out of the hospital, he hunted and hunted, and there wasn’t anything for him. He got one good job; but they said he had to dress better, and he lost that.”
Cornelia sank down on the floor again, and buried her face in her hands.
“O Louie! And I was wearing nice clothes, and doing nothing to help! Oh, why didn’t mother let me know?”
“Oh, mother kept saying she thought she could manage and it was father’s dream you should get your education,” quoted the little girl with dreamy eyes and the memory of many sacrifices sweetly upon her.
“Go on, Louie; what next?”