"Papa stopped and spoke to her before we got into the carriage to come home. He said he was very sorry for her, but if she continued to be honest and industrious, he would see that she did not want; and he hoped her husband would some day come out of prison a better man."
"Did she seem thankful to papa?" asked Grace.
"Yes; and she said she didn't see how Ajax could be so bad and ungrateful as to try to steal papa's money after he'd been so kind to her and the children."
"Yes, and I pity 'Liza for being his wife, and the children because they have such a bad father.
"Lu, let's ask papa if we mayn't buy some calico and other things, with some of our benevolence money, and make clothes for them."
"I wouldn't mind giving the money," said Lulu, "but I hate to sew on such things. You know I never did like plain sewing. I'll see about it though."
"You'd do it to please the dear Lord Jesus, even though you don't like it?" said Grace softly.
"Yes, that I will, if papa approves," returned Lulu warmly, her eyes shining. "Gracie, it's good—a real pleasure, I mean—to make yourself do distasteful things, for Jesus' sake.
"I'll put my hat and coat in their proper places and smooth my hair, so
I'll be neat for dinner, and we'll go and talk to papa about it at once.
He's sure to approve, and I don't want to give myself any chance to
change my mind and give the thing up."
"And we won't mind Grandma Elsie hearing," added Grace; "perhaps she'll know what they need the most, and maybe she'll tell Rosie and Eva and they'll offer to do something for the poor things too."