Now she is a widow with a house full of little children, and not half bread enough to feed them.

I've helped her a number of times already, but I'm getting tired of it; she must look somewhere else, and I told her so." Edith turned from her mother with an unsatisfied manner, and went up stairs.

Mrs.Dinneford was surprised, not long afterward, to meet her at her chamber door, dressed to go out.

This was something unusual.
"Where are you going ?" she asked, not concealing her surprise.
"I have a little errand out," Edith replied.
This was not satisfactory to her mother.

She asked other questions, but Edith gave only evasive answers.
On leaving the house, Edith walked quickly, like one in earnest about something; her veil was closely drawn.