The house and lot were sold , Mr. White being the purchaser thereof ; and Ernest and his mother removed to the little riverside cottage with such of their household belongings as had not also to be sold to make up the required sum . Even then , Ernest had to borrow two hundred dollars from Mr. White , and he foresaw that the repayal of this sum would cost him much self-denial and privation . It would be necessary to cut their modest expenses down severely . For himself Ernest did not mind , but it hurt him keenly that his mother should lack the little luxuries and comforts to which she had been accustomed . He saw too , in spite of her efforts to hide it , that leaving her old home was a terrible blow to her . Altogether , Ernest felt bitter and disheartened ; his step lacked spring and his face its smile . He did his work with dogged faithfulness , but he no longer found pleasure in it . He knew that his mother secretly pined after her lost home where she had gone as a bride , and the knowledge rendered him very unhappy . * * * * * Paul Sinclair , his father 's friend and cousin , died that winter , leaving two small children . His wife had died the previous year . When his business affairs came to be settled they were found to be sadly involved . There were debts on all sides , and it was soon only too evident that nothing was left for the little boys . They were homeless and penniless . `` What will become of them , poor little fellows ? '' said Mrs. Duncan pityingly . `` We are their only relatives , Ernest . We must give them a home at least . '' `` Mother , how can we ! '' exclaimed Ernest . `` We are so poor .
It 's XXXXX much as we can do to get along now , and there is that two hundred to pay Mr. White .
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