Perhaps it was owing to Mrs. Marble's suggestions that Mr. Digby made his next visit the day but one next after; perhaps they were the cause that he did not come sooner! At any rate, in two days he came again; and brought with him not only a Latin grammar, but a paper of grapes for Mrs. Carpenter. At the grammar Rotha's soul rebelled; but what displeasure could stand against those beautiful grapes and the sight of her mother eating them? They were not very good, Mr. Digby said; he would bring better next time; though to the sick woman they were ambrosia, and to Rotha an unknown, most exquisite dainty. Seeing her delighted, wondering eyes, Mr. Digby with a smile broke off part of a bunch and gave to her. "It shall not rob your mother," he said observing that she hesitated. "I will bring her some more." Rotha tasted. "O mother!" she exclaimed in ecstasy,--"I should think these would make you well right off!" Mr. Digby opened the Latin grammar. I think he wanted an excuse for veiling his eyes just then. And Rotha, mollified, when she had finished her grapes, submitted patiently to receive her first lesson and to be told what her teacher expected her to do before he came again. "By the way," said he as he was about going,--"have you any more room than you need, Mrs. Carpenter?" "Room? no. We have this floor--" said Mrs. Carpenter bewilderedly. "You have not one room that you could let? I know a very respectable person, an elderly woman, who I think would be comfortable here, if you would allow her to come. She could pay well for the accommodation." "What would be 'well'?" said Mrs. Carpenter, looking up. "According to the arrangement, of course. For a room without a fire, she would pay four dollars a month; with fire, I should say, twelve." "That would be a great help to me," said Mrs. Carpenter, considering. "I know the person, I have known her a great while. I think I can promise that she would not in any way annoy you." "She brings her own furniture?" "Of course." After a little more turning the matter over in her mind, Mrs. Carpenter gave an unqualified assent to the proposal; and her visiter took his leave. "Mother," said Rotha, "what room are you going to give her?" "There is but one; our bed-room." "Then where shall we sleep?" "Here." "Here! Where we do everything!--" "It is not so pleasant; but it will pay our rent, Rotha. And I should like a little more warmth at night, now the weather is so severe." "O mother, mother! We have got down to two rooms, and now we are come down to one!" "Hush, my child. I am thankful." "Thankful!" "Yes, for the means to pay my rent." "You might have had means to pay your rent, and kept your two rooms," said Rotha; thinking, like a great many other people, that she could improve upon Providence. "How do you like Latin?"