our, I should think," said
Mrs. Hoffman. "I think Jimmy succeeded very well."

"You'll make a great artist some time, Jimmy," said Paul.

"I wish I could," said the little boy. "I should like to earn some
money, so that you and mother need not work so hard."

"Hard work agrees with me. I'm tough," said Paul. "But when we get to
be men, Jimmy, we'll make so much money that mother needn't work at all.
She shall sit in the parlor all day, dressed in silk, with nothing to
do."

"I don't think I would enjoy that," said Mrs. Hoffman, smiling.

"Will you be in the candy business, then, Paul?" said Jimmy.

"No, Jimmy. It would never do for the brother of a great artist to be
selling candy round the streets. I hope I shall have something better to
do than that."

"Sit down to dinner, Paul," said his mother. "It's all ready."

The dinner was not a luxurious one. There was a small plate of cold
meat, some potatoes, and bread and butter; but Mrs. Hoffman felt glad to
be able to provide even that, and Paul, who had the hearty appetite of
a growing boy, did full justice to the fare. They had scarcely finished,
when a knock was heard at the door. Paul, answering the summons,
admitted a stout, pleasant-looking Irishwoman.

"The top of the mornin' to ye, Mrs. Donovan," said Paul, bowing
ceremoniously.

"Ah, ye'll be afther havin' your joke, Paul," said Mrs. Donovan,
good-naturedly. "And how is your health, mum, the day?"

"I am well, thank you, Mrs. Donovan," said Mrs. Hoffman. "Sit down to
the table, won't you? We're just through dinner, but there's something
left."

"Thank you, mum, I've jist taken dinner. I was goin' to wash this
afternoon, and I thought maybe you'd have some little pieces I could
wash jist as well as not."

"Thank you, Mrs. Donovan, you are very kind; but you must have enough
work of your own to do."

"I'm stout and strong, mum, and hard work agrees with me; but you're a
rale lady, and ain't used to it. It's only a thrifle, but if you want to
pay me, you could do a bit of sewin' for me. I ain't very good with the
needle. My fingers is too coarse, belike."

"Thank you, Mrs. Donovan; on those terms I will agree to your kind
offer. Washing is a little hard for me."

Mrs. Hoffman collected a few pieces, and, wrapping them up in a
handkerchief, handed them to her guest.

"And now what have you been doin', Jimmy darlint?" said Mrs. Donovan,
turning her broad, good-humored face toward the younger boy.