She ran into the house, and at her aunt’s door she ran plump into Fred, who was coming out.

“Oh, ho! what happened over there between you and your new friend, Emma?  Something has gone wrong, or you wouldn’t be at home so soon!” cried Fred, far too cleverly.

Emma did not answer, but went into the room, where her aunt was alone, sewing at her work-table.  Emma sat down as close as she could to her, to show that she was in possession, and no one else could have aunty now.

In the kitchen, Marget was standing; Mrs. Stein offered her a chair and gave her a cup of coffee steaming hot, saying:—­

“Do take a moment to rest, Marget; I’ve been for some time wanting a chance to talk with you.  I sent for you not only to give you the clothes, but to talk with you a little about Elsli.  I am worried about that child; she looks so pale and thin.  Hanseli is far too heavy for her to carry, and then the other two boys are always hanging about her and pulling her down.  She will soon break down at this rate; you must see for yourself how miserably she looks, and you ought not to let her be so overworked.”

“Oh, yes, Mrs. Stein, it’s very easy to say that,” interrupted Marget; “but what can people like us do?  I have all I can do from morning till night to get the children clothed and fed; and how could I do it if I had to have all the little crybabies round me all the time?  There’s nobody but Elsli to help me with them.  That big Fani might help her to be sure, but he always forgets; he means well enough, but he’s thoughtless.  Elsli does have to work pretty hard, I know; but she may as well get used to it, for it’ll only be harder by and by.”

“But, Marget,” resumed Mrs. Stein, “I tell you Elsli will break down and be sick, and then where will you be?”

“Where shall I be?  God only knows.  Such as us can’t afford to stop and think what’s going to happen; it’s all we can do to get along to-day, without thinking about to-morrow.  All I know is, I can’t spare Elsli from the children, and the older she grows the harder it will be for her; for she’ll have to go into the factory as soon as she can earn wages, and that’s harder work than looking after the children.  Fani will go first Old Cousin Fekli has his eye on him for Easter, and has said to me two or three times that he wanted the boy as soon as possible.  Cousin Fekli wouldn’t want him if he didn’t think he could make something out of him; he doesn’t forget to look out for his own profits.”

“Are you really related to Mr. Bickel?”

“To be sure I am; we had the same great-grandfathers, so we are second cousins.  He doesn’t care to acknowledge us, but when he passes me, I always say distinctly, ‘Good-day, cousin’; and I don’t mind if he does look rather askance as if he didn’t know who I was—­that’s his look-out.  I’m glad he knows Fani and has his eye on him; if the boy can earn a trifle by working for him, it will be something to help keep the pot boiling.”