at shall I do? I
cannot starve! And I cannot see the child starve!" exclaimed Hannah,
clasping her hands and raising her eyes in earnest appeal to the
judgment of the man who had known her from infancy: who was old enough
to be her father, and who had a wife and grown daughter of his own:

"What shall I do? Oh! what shall I do?" she repeated.

Mr. Nutt still seemed to hesitate and reflect, stealing furtive glances
at the anxious face of the woman. At last he bent across the counter,
took her hand, and, bending his head close to her face, whispered:

"I'll tell you what, Hannah. I will let you have the articles you have
asked for, and anything else in my store that you want, and I will never
charge you anything for them--"

"Oh, sir, I couldn't think of imposing on your goodness so: The Lord
reward you, sir! but I only want a little credit for a short time,"
broke out Hannah, in the warmth of her gratitude.

"But stop, hear me out, my dear girl! I was about to say you might come
to my store and get whatever you want, at any time, without payment, if
you will let me drop in and see you sometimes of evenings," whispered
the dealer.

"Sir!" said Hannah, looking up in innocent perplexity.

The man repeated his proposal with a look that taught even Hannah's
simplicity that she had received the deepest insult a woman could
suffer. Hannah was a rude, honest, high-spirited old maid. And she
immediately obeyed her natural impulses, which were to raise her strong
hands and soundly box the villain's ears right and left, until he saw
more stars in the firmament than had ever been created. And before he
could recover from the shock of the assault she picked up her basket and
strode from the shop. Indignation lent her strength and speed, and she
walked home in double-quick time. But once in the shelter of her own hut
she sat down, threw her apron over her head, and burst into passionate
tears and sobs, crying:

"It's all along of poor Nora and that child, as I'm thought ill on by
the women and insulted by the men! Yes, it is, you miserable little
wretch!" she added, speaking to the baby, who had opened his big eyes to
see the cause of the uproar. "It's all on her account and yourn, as I'm
treated so! Why do you keep on living, you poor little shrimp? Why don't
you die? Why can't both of us die? Many people die who want to live! Why
should we live who want to die? Tell me that, little miserable!" But the
baby defiantly sucked