“They called each other Max and Lu, and talked between themselves about what would please or displease papa.
“I had told her that you were sick, and we’d nothing to depend on but what I could earn, and as I was turning to go, after her brother had taken my address, and promised that somebody would hunt us up soon, she told me to wait a moment and go with her to a fruit-stand; she wanted to get something nice for my sick mother to eat.
“And there they bought all these things; she the berries—at a dollar a box, mother! only think of it!—and he the oranges and crackers and sugar.
“Oh, I remember I saw her slip something into the bag with the oranges, I wonder what it was, I must look!” she exclaimed, turning hastily to the table, where she had deposited the bag.
She took the oranges out one by one till the bag was nearly empty, then catching sight of something shining at the bottom, made a dive for it and drew it out with a little cry of joy.
“Oh, it’s half a dollar! Now mother, you shall have some tea and a bit of broiled steak, or a lamb chop. I’ll run out to the nearest provision store now and get them.”
She began putting on her hat as she spoke.
“Child, you must buy for yourself too,” her mother said, with tears shining in her eyes.
“O mother, no! I shall do nicely without meat, but you are so weak you must have it to strengthen you.”
She stepped to the side of the bed again, bent over her mother, and kissed her tenderly.