Lom gtves his Earnings. 177

—-—

“I mind father,” said she again. ‘“ Mother
goes out to work, and I stays at home, and
cleans up, and sees to things.”

“Wouldn’t you like to play sometimes?”
asked Tom. “ Think of building real castles
with bricks, or setting out all the Noah’s ark
beasts and birds in a row—wouldn’t you like
that ?”

The little girl stared at him.

“Father's ill,” answered she. ‘ He’s been
laid up these two months. I have to mind
him while mother goes out to work.”

She did not seem even to know what play
was. Tom felt more and more sorry for her.

“Have you had any dinner to-day ?” asked
he. She shook her head.

“Ts it too late to take your dinner now ?”
said he; “this is my tea-time. My tea will
be ready when I go home. But then I had
my dinner at one o'clock. Could you eat a
dinner now?”

She nodded in a great hurry. Tom
stretched out his hand and gave her the six
shillings and eightpence.