Besides, so far as Harry was concerned, she was not without hope that he might some day return. He might be dead; but of this there was no proof. Mrs. Raymond clung to the hope that, whatever might be the cause of his absence, it was not occasioned by death. But, in spite of this hope, it was hard to have day after day pass without any intelligence. The home seemed very lonely and sad now. Even little Katy, naturally a lively child, was subdued and more sober than she used to be.
But Mrs. Raymond had another cause for anxiety, and that a serious one. During her husband’s life she had always lived in comfort, and never felt any anxiety about the future. But now whatever money was to be earned for the support of the little household must be earned by herself, for of course Katy was too young to earn anything, and must for some years be kept at school. How to earn money enough to meet their expenses was a difficult problem. She could think of no other way except sewing, and that, even under the best circumstances, as my readers very well know, is very poorly paid.
Squire Turner occasionally called on Mrs. Raymond, feeling that it was for his interest to assume the role of a disinterested friend. One evening, about six weeks after Harry’s disappearance, he took his cane and walked over to the little cottage. The widow had come to look forward with interest to his visits, feeling in her position the need of a friend. She welcomed him, accordingly, with an evident pleasure, which he did not fail to notice.
“I hope you are well, Mrs. Raymond,” he said, removing his hat, and taking the chair which the widow brought forward.
“I am well in health, Squire Turner,” was the reply, “but, I am very unhappy. I sometimes feel as if my sorrows are greater than I can bear.”
“You have Katy left.”
“Yes, Katy is a dear little girl. But for her I should not care to live. But for her and the hope that Harry may come back some time—”
“While there is life there is hope,” said the squire. “I mean while we are not certain of death, there is ground for hope.”
“Don’t you really think he will come back some time, Squire Turner?”