am, and I wish I could
do something to give her a chance in the world. If my wife was only
living, we'd take and bring her up, disagreeable and homely as she is;
but there's no use of my trying to do anything alone. I fear, after
all, that I shall have to give up the old place and go--I don't know
where. What is to become of her?"

Chapter XVI.

Mrs. Mumpson's Vicissitudes

Having completed her preparations for supper, Jane stole timidly up to
Holcroft's room to summon him. Her first rap on his door was scarcely
audible, then she ventured to knock louder and finally to call him, but
there was no response. Full of vague dread she went to her mother's
room and said, "He won't answer me. He's so awful mad that I don't
know what he'll do."

"I think he has left his apartment," her mother moaned from the bed.

"Why couldn't yer tell me so before?" cried Jane. "What yer gone to bed
for? If you'd only show some sense and try to do what he brought you
here for, like enough he'd keep us yet."

"My heart's too crushed, Jane--"

"Oh, bother, bother!" and the child rushed away. She looked into the
dark parlor and called, "Mr. Holcroft!" Then she appeared in the
kitchen again, the picture of uncouth distress and perplexity. A
moment later she opened the door and darted toward the barn.

"What do you wish, Jane?" said Holcroft, emerging from a shadowy corner
and recalling her.

"Sup--supper's--ready," sobbed the child.

He came in and sat down at the table, considerately appearing not to
notice her until she had a chance to recover composure. She vigorously
used the sleeve of both arms in drying her eyes, then stole in and
found a seat in a dusky corner.

"Why don't you come to supper?" he asked quietly.

"Don't want any."

"You had better take some up to your mother."

"She oughtn't to have any."

"That doesn't make any difference. I want you to take up something to
her, and then come down and eat your supper like a sensible girl."

"I aint been sensible, nor mother nuther."

"Do as I say, Jane." The child obeyed, but she couldn't swallow
anything but a little coffee.

Holcroft was in a quandary. He had not the gift of speaking soothing
yet meaningless words, and was too honest to raise false hopes. He was
therefore almost as silent and embarrassed as Jane herself. To the
girl's furtive scrutiny he did not seem hardened against her, and she
at last ventured, "Say, I didn't touch them drawer