The Widowed Bride — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

32 THE WIDOWED BRIDE. of sheer starvation often enough to be troubled by many a grim doubt on the bread-and-cheese question. ‘Harn your livin’! echoed the woman, as she strode along so rapidly that although she was burdened with the other child’s weight Rena was forced almost to run to keep at her side. ‘‘Why, with your faces you’d ought to make your fortunes!” “But how?” , «Stay along wi’ me, and I’ll show you how!” their strange guide answered. ‘“I'here’s ways and means enough for them as knows—plenty to eat and gay clothes to wear, and nothin’ to do but to enjoy yourself.” “But your clothes are ragged and dirty,” remonstrated — straightforward Rena. The woman broke into a laugh. “<D’vye’spose I’m a born nateral to wear my best things on the tramp?” she asked. ‘Wait till ye see my silk gound at home, and the shawls I’ve got and the strings o’ beads and ear-drops! And you shall have some of em if you’re good irls!”’ “Shall we?” said Rena, doubtfully. ‘‘Allie likes beads and gay things!” “Don’t your” ‘“Notso much. Is she asleep?” ‘‘Fast as a dormouse,” the gipsy answered. ‘‘Poor thing! she must ha’ been mortal tired! Did ye walk far?” = ‘‘T don’t know how far,” said Rena. ‘“What was the name of the place as ye comed from?” Rena shook her head. “There was a castle there,” she said, ‘‘and a place called St. Hilda’s Church?’ | | ‘‘T don’t know of no such place!” the woman observed, after a moment or two of deliberation. ‘‘But it don’t mat- ter so much where ye comed from as it do where vere goin’ tc? Beye hungered? My inside’s been cryin’ ‘cupboard?!’ this long while?’ ‘“Yes,”’ Rena answered, simply. he see the chimney-stacks o’ that ’ere farm-house?” “Yes,” «“l'hat’s where we'll get our breakfast,” said the woman, inclining her head, and shifting the sleeping child a little Jower on her arm. Do you know the people?” questioned Rena. , comic 900KsS.¢coO