'Miss Fairbairn, there is an old woman that lives near us in the country—very poor; she is an old Christian,—at least so they say,—and she is very poor. She has lost all her children and grandchildren; she cannot work any more, and she lives upon charity. That is, if you call it living. I know she often has very little indeed to live upon, and that very poor, and she is quite alone; nobody to take the least care for her, or of her.'
'So you think she does want some things. Miss Gainsborough, what have you to say to that?'
'What does she think about it?' Esther asked.
She looked as she spoke at the young lady who had given the instance, but the latter took no notice, until Miss Fairbairn said,
'Miss Baines, a question was put to you.'
'I am sure I don't know,' Miss Baines replied. 'They say she is a very happy old woman.'
'You doubt it?'
'I should not be happy in her place, ma'am. I don't see, for my part, how it is possible. And it seems to me certainly she wants a great many things.'
'What do you think, Miss Gainsborough.'
'I think the Bible must be true, ma'am.'