"Thank you dearest," he said. "I'll go round at once and relieve mother's mind." Rachel sighed as she heard the front door close after him. She looked down gravely at the child in her arms. "I wonder if I have done right," she thought. "Anyhow my little baby I won't neglect you for any number of Mothers' Meetings or Sunday Schools. You and Daddie must come first." Then she sang again— "The mouse ran up the clock, The clock struck one, Down the mouse ran, Dickory, dickory, dock." "Ah! Me! The life of a clergyman's wife is difficult," she sighed. And besides all the work and care, poverty stared her in the face. She could not help fancying that Luke's great coat was turning green; and that he was growing thin, notwithstanding all her efforts to provide him with nourishing food. That he was unconscious of it himself she felt sure. He was quite unconscious also of the necessity of not giving away money unnecessarily. Generous by nature, people had soon found it out, and he could not resist giving when asked. Now that his mother was no longer able to give him advice in the matter, and to restrain the impulse which was so strong in him, and which was a beautiful trait in his character so long as he did not allow it to interfere with his duties as a husband and father, he had been freer than usual with his money. He had no idea that such was their poverty that Rachel who now had taken upon herself to keep the accounts, and to pay the bills, went without nourishing food, in order that there might be enough for him and his little son. He never noticed that when he had meat for his dinner Rachel ate bread and cheese, and that the various dishes that she invented to help to give him a good appetite she did not share with him. Now and then she laughed to herself to see how extraordinarily oblivious he was as to what was going on around him. She was thankful that he never noticed that she looked tired, and was growing thin. It would only have added to his anxiety. But she hoped she would not break down, for his sake and the baby's. And now this fresh work had come upon her. It was not even as if she had been trained up to it. If only they had let her begin when she was stronger, it would have been easier.