Page:Burnett - Two Little Pilgrims' Progress A Story of the City Beautiful.djvu/79

Rh were so few, and only came when the day was waning.

Finding them faithful and ready, those about them fell into the natural, easy, human unworthiness of imposing by no means infrequently on their inexperienced willingness and youth. So they were hard enough worked, but each felt that every day that passed brought them nearer to the end in view, and there was always something to think of, some detail to be worked out mentally and to be discussed in the valuable moments when they were together.

"It's a great deal better than it used to be," Meg said, "at all events. It's better to feel tired working than to be tired of doing nothing but think, and think dreary things."

As the weather grew colder, it was hard enough to keep warm in their hiding-place. They used to sit and talk huddled close together, bundled in their heaviest clothing, and with the straw heaped close around them and over them. There were so many things to be thought of and talked over. Robin collected facts more sedulously than ever—facts about entrance fees, facts about prices of things to eat, facts about places to sleep.

"Going to the Fair yourself, sonny?" Jones said to him one day. Jones was fond of his joke. "You're