The lady told him to follow her into the next room, where she set before him food sufficient to make a hearty meal.
He ate voraciously; and then, when he thought he was not perceived, slipped the silver fork which lay by his plate into his pocket.
His mother, who had been closely watching him, saw the action and sighed heavily. But it led her to be more cautious in future.
"Got any loose change?" he inquired, starting from his seat; "s'pose I'd better be going?"
"We are poor, you know, Alfred," was her reply, "and it is only by close economy that we are enabled to live."
"Ella's rich enough."
"She does not come into possession of her property until she is of age; but if you are really suffering, lay down the fork you have taken from the table and I will give you what it is worth. You could not sell it without risk to yourself, for it is marked."
Alfred poured out a volley of oaths, until his mother pressed her hand upon his eyes, exclaiming, "How can I endure this!"
The fork was thrown angrily upon the table; then, holding out his hand for the money, lie strode rudely from the house, slamming the door after him.
When Ella ran back into the room, she found her mother weeping convulsively in a fit of hysterics; and it was a long time before the united efforts of Hannah and herself could restore her to any degree of composure. At last the poor mother retired to rest, but no sleep visited her eyelids. She reviewed the past; and oh, how bitterly she reproached herself that she had not earlier taught her boy his duty to his Maker. She looked into the future, and could readily foresee that, having once obtained the means of gratifying his wicked passions, he would not be slow to return. Should she thus encourage him in sin? Should she permit his presence to bring a blight upon the youth of her lovely daughter? Ah, no! It could not be her duty! If he were repentant, how gladly would she take him to her arms and endeavor to lead him back to virtue. Then she was aware, judging from this one short interview, that he was wholly devoid of honesty, and that if she admitted him to the house nothing would be safe from his grasp. Before she arose the next morning she resolved that if he visited the house again she would let the cottage, and remove to some other place until he had lost sight of them.