"But we cannot spare the money," urged Moses helplessly. "We have just enough money to get along with to-day. Solomon, go on with thy prayers; thou seizest every excuse to interrupt them. Rachel, go away from him. Thou art also a disturbing Satan to him. I do not wonder his teacher flogged him black and blue yesterday--he is a stubborn and rebellious son who should be stoned, according to Deuteronomy." "We must do without dinner," said Esther impulsively. Sarah sat down on the floor and howled "Woe is me! Woe is me!" "I didden touch 'er," cried Ikey in indignant bewilderment. "'Tain't Ikey!" sobbed Sarah. "Little Tharah wants 'er dinner." "Thou hearest?" said Moses pitifully. "How can we spare the money?" "How much is it?" asked Esther. "It will be a shilling each there and back," replied Moses, who from his long periods of peregrination was a connoisseur in fares. "How can we afford it when I lose a morning's work into the bargain?" "No, what talkest thou?" said Esther. "Thou art looking a few months ahead--thou deemest perhaps, I am already twelve. It will be only sixpence for me." Moses did not disclaim the implied compliment to his rigid honesty but answered: "Where is my head? Of course thou goest half-price. But even so where is the eighteenpence to come from?" "But it is not eighteenpence!" ejaculated Esther with a new inspiration. Necessity was sharpening her wits to extraordinary acuteness. "We need not take return tickets. We can walk back." "But we cannot be so long away from the mother--both of us," said Moses. "She, too, is ill. And how will the children do without thee? I will go by myself." "No, I must see Benjy!" Esther cried. "Be not so stiff-necked, Esther! Besides, it stands in the letter that I am to come--they do not ask thee. Who knows that the great people will not be angry if I bring thee with me? I dare say Benjamin will soon be better. He cannot have been ill long." "But, quick, then, father, quick!" cried Esther, yielding to the complex difficulties of the position. "Go at once." "Immediately, Esther. Wait only till I have finished my prayers. I am nearly done." "No! No!" cried Esther agonized. "Thou prayest so much--God will let thee off a little bit just for once. Thou must go at once and ride both ways, else how shall we know what has happened? I will pawn my new prize and that will give thee money enough."