Mrs. Armstrong turned and looked at him once more. "You're very
kind," she said. "And I know you mean what you say. . . . Why,
yes, I'll tell you the rest. Perhaps," with the slight smile, "you
CAN advise me, Mr. Winslow. You see--well, you see, my brother
will be freed very shortly. I have received word that he is to be
pardoned, his sentence is to be shortened because of what they call
his good conduct. He will be free--and then? What shall he do
then? What shall we all do? That is my problem."
She went on to explain. This was the situation: Her own income
was barely sufficient for Barbara and herself to live, in the
frugal way they were living, in a country town like Orham. That
was why she had decided to remain there. No one in the village
knew her story or the story of her brother's disgrace. But now,
almost any day, her brother might be discharged from prison. He
would be without employment and without a home. She would so
gladly offer him a home with her--they could manage to live, to
exist in some way, she said--but she knew he would not be content
to have her support him. There was no chance of employment in
Orham; he would therefore be forced to go elsewhere, to go
wandering about looking for work. And that she could not bear to
think of.
"You see," she said, "I--I feel as if I were the only helper and--
well--guardian the poor boy has.
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