“‘Not much, ma’am. It’ll take a long time, the doctor says.’
“‘And are you, poor little tot, all alone in the house to do everything?’
“The sweet face gave her a sort of long, wistful look, and passed on. Sue stood there yet at the window, with her head leaning on her hand; and whatever was the reason, so dull of hearing that her father had come down, seated himself in his work-chair, and taken up his shoe, several minutes before she found it out. Then she left the window and came to him.
“‘She’ll want you directly,’ said the cobbler. ‘She’s asleep now.’
“She hesitated a little, and then said ‘yes.’
“‘Well, see, dear, and make some more of that porridge. Can you?’
“‘Yes, father; there’s some meal yet. And there’s some bread, too.’
“‘You may have that,’ said the cobbler. ‘And I’ll go out by and by, and see if I can get a little money. Mr. Shipham had a pair of boots new soled a month ago; and Mr. Binch owes me for some jobs—if I ever could get hold of them.’
“‘If people only knew, they would pay you, father, wouldn’t they?’
“‘There is one that knows,’ said the cobbler. ‘And why they don’t pay me he knows. Maybe it’s to teach you and me, Sue, that man does not live by bread alone.’
“‘But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God doth man live,’ his little daughter went on softly, as if she were filling up the words for her own satisfaction. ‘But didn’t we know that before, father?’
“‘Maybe we didn’t know it enough,’ said the cobbler. ‘I’m afraid I don’t now.’
“And as her back was turned, he hastily brought his hand to his eyes.
“‘But father, can one help feeling a little bad when—when things are so now?’
“‘‘A little bad’—perhaps one might feel ‘_a little bad_,’’ said the cobbler; ‘but if I believed all that I know, I don’t see how I could feel _very_ bad. I don’t see how I could; and I oughtn’t to.’
“His little daughter had been raking the fire together, and setting on the coals a little iron skillet of water. She turned and looked at him when he said this, as if she had not known before that he did feel ‘very bad.’ He did not see the look, which was a startled and sorrowful one; he was bending over his shoe-leather. She left the room then and went after the meal, which she brought in a yellow earthen dish, and began silently to mix for the porridge.