a time like this; but I tell him that one hour of
his presence among us would do more good than all the gold he can send.
His answer comes in the shape of a handsome draft on his banker,
smelling strongly of aromatic vinegar. They fumigate even their
blotting-paper, it seems to me. I did hope my last letter would have
brought him to call."

"Our friends are very ready with their money," said Hope. "I should
have begged of you before this, but that Mr Grey has been liberal in
that way. He concludes it to be impossible that he should look himself
into the wants of the village; but he permits me to use his purse pretty
freely. Is there anything that you can suggest that can be done by me,
Dr Levitt? Is there any case unknown to me where I can be of service?"

"Or I?" said Margaret. "My brother and sister will spare me, and put up
with some hardship at home, I know, if you can point out any place where
I can be more useful."

"To be sure I can. Much as I like to come to your house, to witness and
feel the thorough comfort which I always find in it, I own I shall care
little to see everything at sixes and sevens here for a few weeks, if
you will give me your time and talents for such services as we gentlemen
cannot perform, and as we cannot at present hire persons to undertake.
You see I take you at your word, my dear young lady. If you had not
offered, I should not have asked you: as you have, I snatch at the good
you hold out. I mean to preach a very plain sermon next Sunday on the
duties of neighbours in a season of distress like this: and I shall do
it with the better hope, if I have, meanwhile, a fellow-labourer of your
sex, no less valuable in her way than my friend Hope in his."

"I shall come and hear your sermon," said Hester, "if Margaret will take
charge of my boy for the hour. I want to see clearly what is my duty at
a time when claims conflict as they do now."

There was at present no time for the conscientious and charitable to
lose in daylight loiterings over the table, or chat by the fireside. In
a few minutes the table was cleared, and Margaret ready to proceed with
Dr Levitt to the Platts' Cottage.

As soon as Margaret saw what was the real state of affairs in the
cottage, she sent away Dr Levitt, who could be of no use till some
degree of decency was instituted in the miserable abode. What to set
about first was Margaret's difficulty. There was no one to help her but
Mrs Platt's mother