to be ill any hour. There must be summat wrong, I'm sure, for Steve is none bad-hearted."
"Was ta at station about him?"
"Ay, I went to ask if they hed heard tell o' any accident, and they acted varry queer-like, I'm most broken-hearted, I think."
"Go thee straight home, Sarah. I'll bring iverything that is needful to thee. My word, but I am glad I came out to-night!"
In half an hour bread and meat, and milk and coals were at the cottage, and Jonathan, who was very wet, sat down by the fire to warm and dry his feet. How could he help watching Sarah, amid her many cares and duties, with eyes full of pity? The children had to be fed and undressed. The sick mother, half unconscious and very hard to manage, kept continually calling her. It was easy to see that upon Sarah the whole helpless family leaned.
As she was walking a sickly little child to sleep, a woman opened the door and looked in with a troubled face. Sarah caught the look and stopped suddenly.
"Oh, woman, woman!" she cried, "what is t' matter? Where is Steve? Dost ta know?"
