"What are you crying about, Esther? I never saw yer cry before. It do seem
that odd."
"I'm so weak. Mother's death has broken my heart, and now to know that I
shall never see any one of you again."
"It do seem 'ard. We shall miss you sadly. But I was going to say that
father can't take me unless I finds two pounds. You won't see me stranded,
will you, Esther?"
"I cannot give you the money, Jenny. Father has had too much of my money
already; there's 'ardly enough to see me through. I've only four pounds
left. I cannot give you my child's money; God knows how we shall live
until I can get to work again."
"You're nearly well now. But if yer can't help me, yer can't. I don't know
what's to be done. Father can't take me if I don't find the money."
"You say the agency wants two pounds for each person?"
"Yes, that's it."
"And I've four. We might both go if it weren't for the baby, but I don't
suppose they'd make any charge for a child on the breast."
"I dunno. There's father; yer know what he is."
"That's true. He don't want me; I'm not one of his. But, Jenny, dear, it
is terrible to be left all alone. Poor mother dead, and all of you going
to Australia. I shall never see one of you again."
The conversation paused. Esther changed the baby from the left to the
right breast, and Jenny tried to think what she had best say to induce her
sister to give her the money she wanted.
Pages:
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192