“No.”

“But you must.”

“I never give money.  I give myself, my health, my time, my labor.  Money—­no!”

“Why not money?”

“Because money answers all ends, and I don’t know what end is coming; but I do know that it will be a very uncommon end that money can’t answer.  Thou must have spent nearly all of it thou had.”

“It will come back to me.”

“If the war stops soon, happen some of it will come back.  If it does not stop soon, thou art standing to lose every shilling of it.  So thou sees I must save my shillings in case my children need them.  How is Jane?”

“Very well.  She is the greatest help and comfort to me.  I do not know how I could have borne and done without her.”

“Mebbe thy mother might hev helped thee.”

And John answered with a beaming smile, “My mother never failed me.”

“What is Jane doing?”

“Did you not hear that Mrs. Levy and Jane started a sewing-club for the girl mill-hands?  Very few of this class of workers can sew, and they are being taught how to make all kinds of garments for themselves and others.  They meet in a large room over Mr. Levy’s barn.  He has had it well warmed and he gives them one good meal every day.”

“I am sure I never thought Jane would notice that woman.”

“Mrs. Levy?  She says she has the sweetest, kindest nature, and the wisest little ways of meeting emergencies.  And I can tell you, mother, that her husband has given his full share of help both in money and work during all these last three bitter years.  He will be a greater honor to the Gentlemen’s Club than any of the gentlemen who have run away to rest in Italy and left Hatton to starve or survive as she could.  Have you seen Harry lately?  How is he managing?”

“Harry does not manage at all, but he is very manageable, the best quality a man can possess.  Lucy manages Harry and everything else at Yoden to perfection.  She expects another baby with the spring, but she is well and cheerful and busy as a bee.”

“Does Yoden farm do anything worth while?”

“To be sure it does.  Lugur helps Harry about the farm and Harry likes work in the open, but Harry’s voice is worth many farms.  It has improved lately, and next week he goes to Manchester to sing in oratorio.  He will bring a hundred pounds or more back with him.”

“Then at last he is satisfied and happy.”

“Happy as the day is long.  He is wasteful though, in money matters, and too ready to give the men he knows a sovereign if they are in trouble.  And it is just wasting yourself to talk to him about wasting money.  I told him yesterday that I had heard Ben Shuttleworth had been showing a sovereign Mr. Harry gave him and that he ought not to waste his money, and he said some nonsense about saved money being lost money, and that spending money or giving it away was the only way to save it.  Harry takes no trouble and Medway, the new preacher, says, Henry Hatton lifts up your heart, if he only smiles at you.”