“No, the only child she ever had died in infancy. Her husband too has been dead many years. He left her almost nothing except the farm which eats itself up in taxes.”
“Hasn’t she any sisters or brothers?” This question was posed by Eileen.
“She did have a brother,” Mr. Vincent replied. “He tried repeatedly to help her, but Mrs. Myles is proud. She refused to accept any assistance from him.”
“You know Mrs. Myles real well, don’t you?” remarked Veve.
“I’ve not seen her in several years,” the carpenter replied. “That is, not to speak to her. I do see her driving along the road sometimes in her buggy. Each time she looks thinner and more tired—”
Mr. Vincent broke off to gaze speculatively at the Brownies. The girls could tell that he had thought of some plan which involved them.
In this they were right too, for an instant later he said:
“How would you girls like to help Mrs. Myles?”
“HOP is our motto!” chuckled Veve.
Mr. Vincent did not understand what she meant, so Miss Gordon explained that HOP was a code used by the Brownies. The letters stood for “Help Other People.”