She had not yet eaten of the food, which her two well children were devouring with the eagerness of hungry animals.

Only a small portion did she now take for herself, and that was eaten hurriedly, as if the time occupied in attending to her own wants were so much wasted.
The meal over, Mrs.Gaston took the unfinished pair of trowsers, and, though feeling weary and disheartened, bent earnestly to the task before her.

At this she toiled, unremittingly, until the falling twilight admonished her to stop.

The children's supper was then prepared.

She would have applied to Mrs.Grubb for a loaf of bread, but was so certain of meeting a refusal, that she refrained from doing so.