‘Why, whatever----’ she began, but he went on, forcibly moderating his voice, ‘Molly, I never could have thought to hear such a word from thee. Hast thought what it means? It means that we--seven hundred and more of us--shall go like beggars every day, and take that man’s money, and eat his bread, and do nothing for it. Thou’rt mazed with thy trouble,’ he added soothingly, ‘or thou’d never have dreamt of it.’ ‘But how mun we live?’ she asked, seeing only that they were Mr. Mallory’s work-people, and that he prized their services, and like a generous master desired to help them until better times came round again. ‘Thou wert always so set against th’ master, lad; but when we’re like to starve, what mun we do?’ Neither Mary nor Myles, it may have been observed, made any mention of their mother, or spoke as if she could relieve them. Later in the distress Mary went to her mother, and represented their situation. Mrs. Hoyle replied sententiously that her money was sunk in her husband’s business, and she had no longer any control over it, which was indeed true: she had put it entirely in his power immediately after marrying him, and it remained there, for towards the close of 1863 Mrs. Hoyle, who had believed that she was doing well for herself in her marriage, died of a rapid, sudden illness, and her money passed away from her children, and into her husband’s hands, for ever. ‘We’re not like to starve yet,’ replied Myles, to his sister’s last remark. ‘I’ve got over ten pounds put by--it ought to have been more, but I wasn’t as careful as I should have been; and you’ve something of your own, I know. It’s true, we’d meant to keep it, but in these times we’ll most of us have to use up what we put by.’ ‘Eh, lad!’ answered Mary, with sorrowful embarrassment, ‘mine were such a bit! And I’ve drawn it all out, for to buy yon lad his bits of things as he must have. Doctor ordered them, and I saw as thou were moithered wi’ summat, so I didn’t ax thee, but just used up my own bit o’ brass. It’s all gone--all but a few shillin’s.’ He dropped her arm, and turned aside. This then was the prospect--a sick brother to cherish, himself and his sister to support; the rent to pay; and a little over ten pounds between them and destitution. Undaunted though his spirit was, it was fain to stand appalled before these facts, until at last, turning round, he said, ‘I’ll think about what can be done, Mary. Ten pounds will last a good while, and thou’rt so clever at managing, and all that.’ Mary was silent. She knew how quickly ten pounds would vanish, where there was an invalid to be cared for; and the regular weekly sum which Myles had haughtily refused, seemed, now that it was out of her reach, to assume the proportions of absolute wealth. ‘Myles,’ she said, ‘I know thou mun have some reason for what thou’rt doing, but _I’ve_ no grudge against the master. I don’t see why I shouldn’t take the relief and help Ned a bit ... thou needna know nowt about it.’