“No.”... They were silent a few minutes. “I thought—at first—I would send it back. I wrote to Tom how many things we needed—for the house—and the children—and for everything—”
“What did he say?”
“He asked me if you would let me spend it for the house and for the children and for everything—if you knew about it?”
The man’s eyes were looking at Mr. Eldridge Walcott, regarding him impartially. “I am glad that you did not let me know.”
“Yes. I sent it back—once. But Tom wrote again—all about when we were children and when he gave me the biggest bites of candy and filled my pail up to the top when we went berrying——-He said it was what had made a man of him—keeping my pail full.”
Eldridge winced a little. But she did not stop. “He said he wanted me to spend the money for the little girl he knew.
“I didn’t spend it—not for a long time, you know. But I kept it and I looked at it—sometimes—and wondered.... Then one day I saw a dress—that I liked. I thought it was like me, a little—?” She looked at him———
He nodded.
“So I got it—and that was the end, I guess.” She laughed tremulously. “Everything kept coming after that. The dress seemed to make me need— everything!” She spread out her hands.
Then she sat thinking—and looking at the dress that needed everything. “I wore it at first just at home—when I was alone. I would put it on and sit down and fold my hands—and think of things... about Tom and about being a little girl—and about mother. I was always rested when I took it off... and when the children came in from school and you came home, I could bear things better.”....