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 after this for nothing . Ai n't it strange what a fancy she 's took to Miss Gray ? Think of her doing all those things for her all summer , and selling the grape jug and all . Well , the Old Lady certainly is n't mean , but nobody made a mistake in calling her queer . It all does seem desperate pitiful . Miss Gray 's taking it awful hard . She seems to think about as much of the Old Lady as the Old Lady thinks of her . She 's so worked up she do n't even seem to care about going to Europe next year . She 's really going -- she 's had word from Andrew Cameron .
I 'm awful glad , for there never was a sweeter girl XXXXX the world ; but she says it will cost too much if the Old Lady 's life is to pay for it . ''
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