“Good. We shall need hot water immediately. How long since you have eaten?” he asked the man.

“He hain’t eat nothing all day,” said the wife, who had returned and again stood in the door with all her flock, gazing at him. Then the woman grew plaintively garrulous about the trouble she had had “doin’ fer him,” and begged David to tell her “could he he’p ‘im.” At last Thryng put a hurried end to her talk by saying he could do nothing — nothing at all for her old man, unless she took herself and the children all away. She looked terror-stricken, and her mouth drew together in a stubborn, resentful line as if in some way he had precipitated ill luck upon them by his coming. Cassandra at once took her basket and walked out toward the stream, and they