"'I know also you want it; how is the child, is she quite well?'—'Yes, quite.'
"'Where is she?' inquired I, looking round the room, but I didn't see her; she used to be up.—'She has gone to bed,' she said.
"'It is very early.'—'Yes, but she cried so for food that I was obliged to get her to sleep to forget her hunger: poor thing, she has wanted bread very badly.'
"'Poor thing!' I said, 'let her be awakened and partake of what I have brought home.'
"With that my wife waked her up, and the moment she opened her eyes she again began to cry for food, which I immediately gave her and saw her devour with the utmost haste and hunger. The sight smote my heart, and my wife sat by watching, and endeavouring to prevent her from eating so fast.
"'This is bad,' I said.—'Yes, but I hope it may be the worst,' she replied, in a deep and hollow voice.
"'Lizzy,' I exclaimed, 'what is the matter—are you ill?'—'Yes, very ill.'
"'What is the matter with you? For God's sake tell me,' I said, for I was alarmed.—'I am very ill,' she said, 'very ill indeed; I feel my strength decreasing every day. I must drink.'
"You, too, want food?'—'I have and perhaps do, though the desire to eat seems almost to have left me.'
"'For Heaven's sake eat,' said I; 'I will bring you home something more by to-morrow; eat and drink Lizzy. I have suffered; but for you and your child's sake, I will do my best.'—'Your best,' she said, 'will kill us both; but, alas, there is no other aid at hand. You may one day, however, come here too late to find us living.'