ork?"

"Certainly, why not?"

"Mother says I must sit in the parlor 'n' learn Commandments 'n' keep
Sunday."

"Well, Jane, which do you think you ought to do?"

"I think I oughter work, and if you and Mrs. Wiggins will let me, I
will work in spite of mother."

"I think that you and your mother both should help do the necessary
work today. There won't be much."

"If I try and help Mrs. Wiggins, mother'll bounce out at me. She shook
me last night after I went upstairs, and she boxed my ears 'cause I
wanted to keep the kitchen fire up last night."

"I'll go with you to the kitchen and tell Mrs. Wiggins to let you help,
and I won't let your mother punish you again unless you do wrong."

Mrs. Wiggins, relying on Jane's promise of help, had sat down to the
solace of her pipe for a few minutes, but was about to thrust it
hastily away on seeing Holcroft. He reassured her by saying
good-naturedly, "No need of that, my good woman. Sit still and enjoy
your pipe. I like to smoke myself. Jane will help clear away things
and I wish her to. You'll find she's quite handy. By the way, have you
all the tobacco you want?"

"Vell, now, master, p'raps ye know the 'lowance down hat the poor-us
vasn't sich as ud keep a body in vat ye'd call satisfyin' smokin'. Hi
never 'ad henough ter keep down the 'ankerin'."

"I suppose that's so. You shall have half of my stock, and when I go
to town again, I'll get you a good supply. I guess I'll light my pipe,
too, before starting for a walk."

"Bless yer 'art, master, ye makes a body comf'terble. Ven hi smokes,
hi feels more hat 'ome and kind o' contented like. An hold 'ooman like
me haint got much left to comfort 'er but 'er pipe."

"Jane!" called Mrs. Mumpson sharply from the parlor. As there was no
answer, the widow soon appeared in the kitchen door. Smoking was one
of the unpardonable sins in Mrs. Mumpson's eyes; and when she saw Mrs.
Wiggins puffing comfortably away and Holcroft lighting his pipe, while
Jane cleared the table, language almost failed her. She managed to
articulate, "Jane, this atmosphere is not fit for you to breathe on
this sacred day. I wish you to share my seclusion."

"Mrs. Mumpson, I have told her to help Mrs. Wiggins in the necessary
work," Holcroft interposed.

"Mr. Holcroft, you don't realize--men never do--Jane is my offspring,
and--"

"Oh, if you put it that way, I shan't interfere between mother and
child. But I suppose you and Jane cam