Eleanor H. Porter

“ Helen had not planned for the corncake at first—but there was the codfish. If the poor dear had had nothing but codfish! ... Helen opened a jar of the treasured peach preserves, too; indeed, the entire supper table from the courageous little fern in the middle to the "company china" cup at Mrs. Raymond's plate was a remorseful apology for that midday codfish. If Mrs. Raymond noticed this, she gave no sign. Without comment, she ate the corncake and the peach preserves, and drank her tea from the china cup; with Mrs. Raymond only the codfish of one's daily life merited comment. ”

“ Mason's voice was significant in its smoothness. "Your mother said she was going to get her—a tie."
"Yes, a tie," repeated Helen, with feverish lightness; "lace, you know. Mother does so love pretty things! Oh, and by the way," hurried on the girl breathlessly, "if you don't mind—about the dinners, you know. Mother does n't care for codfish-and-cream, and if you could just substitute something else, I'll pay more, of course! I'd expect to do that. I've been thinking for some time that you ought to have at least ten cents a day more—if you could manage—on that. ”

“ See here, Miss Helen, it ain't none o' my business, I know, but I've just got to speak. Your eyes are all teary, and your cheeks have got two red spots in 'em. You've been cryin'. I know you have. You're so thin I could just blow you over with a good big breath. And I know what's the matter. You're all wore out. You're doin' too much. No mortal woman can work both day and night! ”

“ At the end of the ten minutes, Herbert's friend rose to his feet and said that he must go. He added that he would come again, if he might; and to Miss Raymond he said very low—but very impressively—that she would see him soon, very soon. It was no surprise, therefore, to Helen, to encounter the big, tall fellow not twenty feet from her doorway when she started for the store the next morning.
His clean-cut face flushed painfully as he advanced; but the girl did not change color.
"Good-morning. I thought you'd do this," she began hurriedly. "We can talk as we walk. ”

“ You know, mother—though she is n't very sick—can do but little for herself."
"Yes, I know she don't—seem to. But is n't there some one else that could help?"
The girl stirred restlessly. Her eyes sought for a means of escape. ”