She ran out of the room, and a minute afterwards came back with a neat little packet in her hand. There was more in it than a note, but she asked Mr. Fairchild to put it into his pocket, and not look at it.
Mr. Fairchild smiled and thanked her, and at that very
moment other morning visitors were brought in, and took up the attention of Mr. and Mrs. Darwell.
Mr. Fairchild was rising, when the little girl, bending forward to him, said in a low voice:
"I heard what you said, sir, about those poor little children, and I will try to help them."
How pleasant was it to Mr. Fairchild to hear those words from that fair little lady! And he came away quite delighted with her, and pleased with Mr. Darwell.
He found Mr. Burke in his gig at the gates, with the horse's head turned towards home.
As they were driving back, Mr. Fairchild spoke of Miss Darwell, and said how very much he had been pleased with her.
Mr. Burke said that "she was a wonder of a child, considering how she was indulged, and that she seemed to have no greater pleasure than in doing good to the poor, especially to the children." They then talked of the old woman.
Mr. Burke said he would, on his own responsibility, have the cottage put to rights. "It should have been done before," he added. "And I will see that she receives some help from the parish for the children; she has had a little for herself all along. And my wife shall send her some soup, and, may be, I could find something for Edward to do, if it be but to frighten away the birds from the crops; so let that matter trouble you no more, Mr. Fairchild."