Instantly Faith had flung herself down beside her and put her arm around the thin , shaking shoulders . `` You stop bothering her , '' she commanded Jerry . Then she hugged the waif . `` Do n't cry , dear . Just tell us what 's the matter . WE 'RE friends . '' `` I 'm so -- so -- hungry , '' wailed Mary . `` I -- I hai n't had a thing to eat since Thursday morning , ` cept a little water from the brook out there . '' The manse children gazed at each other in horror . Faith sprang up . `` You come right up to the manse and get something to eat before you say another word . '' Mary shrank . `` Oh -- I ca n't . What will your pa and ma say ? Besides , they 'd send me back . '' `` We 've no mother , and father wo n't bother about you . Neither will Aunt Martha . Come , I say . '' Faith stamped her foot impatiently . Was this queer girl going to insist on starving to death almost at their very door ?
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