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.

I can imagine," smiling wanly, "how he would scorn the idea of his needing a guardian, but I feel as if it were my duty to be with him, to stand by him when every one else has deserted him.