and when she asked Mr. Elder to give her time to procure either the
means of paying him, or to procure another place to stay, she did so
only to avert the threatened ejectment for a brief period. Nor did she
know where to procure another shelter. There was no one in the town
that she knew from whom she could have obtained a room to rent, unless
the money was paid in advance.

After Mr. Elder's departure, she fell on her knees and prayed for
help, but she did so only from habit, not with the belief that an
Omnipotent arm would be stretched out to aid her. There she knelt and
prayed, until the thought of her sick child flashed across her brain,
and rising, she stooped over and enquired how she felt.

"The same way," answered Ella. "I feel very hot, and my throat is
quite parched."

"You have got the fever, darling," said Mrs. Wentworth.--"Is there
anything I can do for you?"

"Nothing," replied Ella, "except," she continued, "you could get me
something sweet to take this bitter taste from my mouth."

A pang shot through Mrs. Wentworth's heart as she replied, "I cannot
get anything just now. You must wait until a little later in the day."

She spoke sadly, for it was a deception that she was practicing upon
her child, when she promised to gratify her wishes at a later hour.

"Never mind," observed Ella. "Do not trouble yourself, my dear mother,
I do not want it very badly."