“Oh,” said the young lady to herself, whom we shall call Miss Elsworth. “Oh, I wish I could turn them away when they come, but I can’t. I might just as well try to stop my own hunger as to try to turn one away that is hungry, and I’ll just slip in and get her a cup of tea to help her on her way. It will rest her, I am sure.”
Miss Elsworth touched the woman lightly on the shoulder, saying: “Come into the kitchen and I will give you a lunch; I know a cup of tea will do you good.”
The old lady arose, and wiping the tears away, said:
“God bless you, miss; I am sure you will get your reward some day for doing so great a favor.”
“It is no favor,” Miss Elsworth said, as she led the way to the kitchen. “Only I shall be obliged to ask you to be as quick as possible, for I am about to go out to look for a housekeeper, and I wish to find her before she is otherwise engaged. It is so hard to find a trusty one.”
“Is it?”
“Yes; one has to be cautious.”
Miss Elsworth hurried about and soon had a steaming cup of fragrant tea and a tempting lunch prepared for the old lady.
“Sit down, now, and perhaps you will be better able to walk after you have eaten your lunch,” said Miss Elsworth.
Mrs. Morris took her seat by the table, and as she sipped her tea and broke a fresh bun she said: