Several other women offered assistance . Everybody was kind and thoughtful . But the Old Lady did not know it . She did not even know Sylvia Gray , who came and sat by her every minute she could spare . Sylvia Gray now knew all that she had suspected -- the Old Lady was her fairy godmother . The Old Lady babbled of Sylvia incessantly , revealing all her love for her , betraying all the sacrifices she had made . Sylvia 's heart ached with love and tenderness , and she prayed earnestly that the Old Lady might recover . `` I want her to know that I give her love for love , '' she murmured . Everybody knew now how poor the Old Lady really was . She let slip all the jealously guarded secrets of her existence , except her old love for Leslie Gray . Even in delirium something sealed her lips as to that . But all else came out -- her anguish over her unfashionable attire , her pitiful makeshifts and contrivances , her humiliation over wearing unfashionable dresses and paying only five cents where every other Sewing Circle member paid ten . The kindly women who waited on her listened to her with tear-filled eyes , and repented of their harsh judgments in the past . `` But who would have thought it ? '' said Mrs. Spencer to the minister 's wife . `` Nobody ever dreamed that her father had lost ALL his money , though folks supposed he had lost some in that old affair of the silver mine out west . It 's shocking to think of the way she has lived all these years , often with not enough to eat -- and going to bed in winter days to save fuel . Though I suppose if we had known we could n't have done much for her , she 's so desperate proud . But if she lives , and will let us help her , things will be different after this . Crooked Jack says he 'll never forgive himself for taking pay for the few little jobs he did for her .
He says , if she 'll only let him , he 'll do everything she wants done for her XXXXX this for nothing .
after by except for in of out that though with