But  some  way  must  be  devjsed  'to  add  a
least,  to  their  means.  She  had  not  uninterrupted
leisure  sufficient  to  teach,  even  if  the  place  could
furnish  pupils,  without  withdrawing  them  from
those  who  needed  the  income  still  more  than  they
did.  Sewing  was  the  only  way  opened,  and  to  that
Mr.  Herbert,  at  first,  resolutely  objected.  Not
long,  however,  for  he  could  not  but  see  the  neces
sity  for  it,  and,  before  spring,  they  were  indebted
to  his  wife's  nimble  fingers,  for  many  com
forts.
She  would  have  grieved  had  her  mother  known
that  her  longed-for  home  letters,  were  often  detained
in  the  office  till  she  could  earn  the  twenty-five  cents
(postage  at  that  time)  with  which  to  release  them,
or  that  she  had  sewed  late  into  the  night,  to  procure
their  dinner  the  next  day.  This  last,  not  often,
however,  for  provisions  were,  for  -the  most  part,
abundant,  and  fabulously  cheap.
One  stormy  afternoon  in  February  Mr.  Herbert
came  home  and  asked  his  wife  if  she  thought  it
would  be  safe  for  her  to  venture  out  to  see  Mrs.
Reed,  who  was  considered  dangerously  ill.  Mrs.
Herbert  made  no  delay  in  preparing  for  the
walk,  for  their  first  acquaintance  had  matured


102       ,  V  :  tfKoii  TDAWN  TO  DAYLIGHT.
ihft/'  strong  affection,  and  the  fear  of  losing  this
dear  friend  was  exceedingly  painful.
They  found  Mrs.  Eeed  rapidly  sinking,  and  Dr.
