"oh, I see, a little beggar girl! Why don't you let the man pass?
He's taken her up for something, I dare say."

"No," said Chester with a faint hope of getting food; "it is want,
nothing worse--she is frozen and starved."

"What a pity, and the authorities make such provision for the poor,
too! I declare, Mr. Farnham, you ought to stop this sort of thing--it
is scandalous to have one's house haunted with such frightful
objects."

Young Farnham drew toward his mother, flushed and eager.

"If the girls are in bed, let me go down and search for something,
the poor child looks so forlorn."

As he pleaded with his mother the hall light lay full upon him, and
never did benevolence look more beautiful on a young face. It must
have been a cold-hearted person, indeed, who could have resisted those
fine, earnest eyes, and that manner so full of generous grace.

"Come, mother, music should open one's heart--may I go?"

"Nonsense, Fred, what would you be at? The man is in a hurry to go.
Why can't you be reasonable for once," replied the weak woman,
glancing at her husband, who was walking angrily up and down the
drawing-room; and sinking her voice she added:

"See, your father is out of sorts; do come in!"