“I have a bran-new seven and sixpenny book,” she answered hurriedly, passing it to him.

He turned instinctively to the fly-leaf.

“Bran-new book!” he said contemptuously. “’Esther Ansell—­For improvement!’ When a book’s spiled like that, what can you expect for it?”

“Why, it’s the inscription that makes it valuable,” said Esther tearfully.

“Maybe,” said the rubicund man gruffly.  “But d’yer suppose I should just find a buyer named Esther Ansell?” Do you suppose everybody in the world’s named Esther Ansell or is capable of improvement?”

“No,” breathed Esther dolefully.  “But I shall take it out myself soon.”

“In this world,” said the rubicund man, shaking his head sceptically, “there ain’t never no knowing.  Well, how much d’yer want?”

“I only want a shilling,” said Esther, “and threepence,” she added as a happy thought.

“All right,” said the rubicund man softened.  “I won’t ’aggle this mornen.  You look quite knocked up.  Here you are!” and Esther darted out of the shop with the money clasped tightly in her palm.

Moses had folded his phylacteries with pious primness and put them away in a little bag, and he was hastily swallowing a cup of coffee.

“Here is the shilling,” she cried.  “And twopence extra for the ’bus to London Bridge.  Quick!” She put the ticket away carefully among its companions in a discolored leather purse her father had once picked up in the street, and hurried him off.  When his steps ceased on the stairs, she yearned to run after him and go with him, but Ikey was clamoring for breakfast and the children had to run off to school.  She remained at home herself, for the grandmother groaned heavily.  When the other children had gone off she tidied up the vacant bed and smoothed the old woman’s pillows.  Suddenly Benjamin’s reluctance to have his father exhibited before his new companions recurred to her; she hoped Moses would not be needlessly obtrusive and felt that if she had gone with him she might have supplied tact in this direction.  She reproached herself for not having made him a bit more presentable.  She should have spared another halfpenny for a new collar, and seen that he was washed; but in the rush and alarm all thoughts of propriety had been submerged.  Then her thoughts went off at a tangent and she saw her class-room, where new things were being taught, and new marks gained.  It galled her to think she was missing both.  She felt so lonely in the company of her grandmother, she could have gone downstairs and cried on Dutch Debby’s musty lap.  Then she strove to picture the room where Benjy was lying, but her imagination lacked the data.  She would not let herself think the brilliant Benjamin was dead, that he would be sewn up in a shroud just like his poor mother, who had no literary talent whatever, but she wondered whether he was groaning like the grandmother.  And so, half distracted, pricking up her ears at the slightest creak on the stairs, Esther waited for news of her Benjy.  The hours dragged on and on, and the children coming home at one found dinner ready but Esther still waiting.  A dusty sunbeam streamed in through the garret window as though to give her hope.