Alida was still more perplexed. What could be said by way of comfort, feeling sure as she did that Holcroft would be bitterly hostile to the idea of keeping the child? The best she could do was to draw the little waif out and obtain some explanation of her unexpected appearance. But first she asked, "Have you had any breakfast?" Jane shook her head. "Oh, then you must have some right away." "Don't want any. I want to die. I oughtn' ter been born." "Tell me your troubles, Jane. Perhaps I can help you." "No, you'd be like the rest. They all hate me and make me feel I'm in the way. He's the only one that didn't make me feel like a stray cat, and now he's gone and got married," and the child sobbed aloud. Her grief was pitiful to see, for it was overwhelming. Alida stooped down, and gently lifting the child up, brought her in. Then she took off the wet hat and wiped the tear-stained face with her handkerchief. "Wait a minute, Jane, till I bring you something," and she ran to the dairy for a glass of milk. "You must drink it," she said, kindly but firmly. The child gulped it down, and with it much of her grief, for this was unprecedented treatment and was winning her attention. "Say," she faltered, "will you ask him to let me stay?" "Yes, I'll ask him, but I can't promise that he will." "You won't ask him 'fore my face and then tell him not to behind my back?" and there was a sly, keen look in her eyes which tears could not conceal. "No," said Alida gravely, "that's not my way. How did you get here, Jane?" "Run away." "From where?" "Poorhouse." Alida drew a quick breath and was silent a few moments. "Is--is your mother there?" she asked at length. "Yes. They wouldn't let us visit round any longer." "Didn't your mother or anyone know you were coming?" Jane shook her head. Alida felt that it would be useless to burden the unhappy child with misgivings as to the result, and her heart softened toward her as one who in her limited way had known the bitterness and dread which in that same almshouse had overwhelmed her own spirit. She could only say gently, "Well, wait till Mr. Holcroft comes, and then we'll see what he says." She herself was both curious and anxious as to his course. "It will be a heavy cross," she thought, "but I should little deserve God's goodness to me if I did not befriend this child."