"Wonder what that there maidservant in the Bible would have done if she'd been lookin' after aunt! But there's no cure for cripples that I knows of, or I might be able to do her good." She passed a flower-girl selling violets, then she looked back at her, and a bright idea struck her. Hastily she felt for one of her precious coppers, and after considerable haggling over the bunches, she selected one, paid her penny, and ran off home as fast as her legs could carry her. When she came in she found her aunt lying down, her work, untouched, by her side. This was such an unusual sight that Peggy was quite taken aback. She stepped across the room quietly. "I've brought you some vi'lets, Aunt, to smell." Mrs. Perkins turned in her bed. Her face looked white and drawn. "I've that queer pain in my side agen, Peg," she murmured. "Give me a drop o' gin and hot water." Peggy put down her violets hastily, and went to the cupboard for the gin bottle, which, for Mrs. Perkins' credit, I must say, was hardly ever used by her. She soon brought her some hot drink in a tumbler. Mrs. Perkins seemed better after she had drunk it, and once more sat up in bed. "It took me all of a sudden," she explained; "and I've a lot of work to be got through. Here, Peggy, give me over that wool. Did you say you 'ad some vi'lets? Where did you get 'em?" "I bought 'em, Aunt." "Bought vi'lets!" Mrs. Perkins' tone changed. "Why, you wicked, wasteful girl! And where did you get the money? Me lyin' here and slavin' from morn to night to keep us from starvin', and you out in the streets a-buying flowers like any carriage lady! You ought to be ashamed of yerself, that you did!" Peggy hung her head. "I bought 'em for you," she murmured. "I thought as 'ow you'd like to smell 'em!" Mrs. Perkins gave a scornful smile. "A very likely story. Don't you tell me no more lies! Bought 'em for me, indeed! When did you ever do such a wonder? The skies might fall before you'd give a thought to your sick aunt! You takes her money and vittles, and the clothes she gives yer, and you grumbles at all you has to do for her. Oh! If ever you loses your legs and lies on a hard bed, may you know what it is to have an ungrateful girl a-waitin' on yer!" A sullen look crossed Peggy's face. She did not attempt to argue the matter out, or prove herself in the right. But she felt as if she would never try to do a kindness to her aunt again. She began to make preparations for tea, and she pitched the violets down on the floor. That gave an occasion for another scolding, and Mrs. Perkins finally gave orders that the flowers were to be put in a tumbler of fresh water and placed on the window-ledge. "I only 'opes as you came by 'em honest; but there's no sayin'. I may as well 'ave the good of 'em now they're here." Peggy was wakened out of her sleep that night by a call from her aunt. "That old pain agen! It must be those shrimps I took. Oh dear! Oh dear! I feel as if I can't bear it!"