She found a suitable little house at Teckford, laid in her little
store of provisions with care, for she argued wisely that however poor
people were they required food, and was living very comfortably on the
proceeds of her sales. Hannah, as a rule, had a smooth and unruffled
brow; she was a careful woman, but not a troubled one. At the present
moment, however it could scarcely be said of this good soul that she
was without cares. The neighbors who came in to buy their bacon, and
fresh eggs, and candles, and tea, remarked that Hannah had no longer a
cheery word and a pleasant smile to give them, and the children, when
they tumbled out their halfpennies and asked for "a little piece of
taffy, please, ma'am," noticed that Hannah's eyes had red rims round
them, and they wondered if she was naughty, and that was why she
cried.
Yes, poor Hannah had a troubled heart during those early summer days,
for Daisy lay so weak and languid, and indifferent to all external
things, on her tiny little bed, never giving Hannah any information as
to why she had wandered alone to Rosebury, never saying anything about
the weight of sorrow which rested on her little heart, only now and
then moaning out that she must get up and go to Mrs.
Pages:
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347