He awoke by habit very early in the morning, and aroused himself with
a great effort against dropping asleep again. He could realize and
understand his position better now. Father was dead; and there was no
one to earn bread for them all but himself. At this thought he sprang
up instantly, though his head was aching in a manner he had never felt
before. With some difficulty he awoke Martha to get his breakfast and
put up his dinner in a basket which he carried with him to the pit. She
also complained bitterly of her head aching, and moved about with a
listlessness very different to her usual activity. 'I only wish I knew
what was right,' said Stephen to himself; 'they told us we ought to show
respect for father, but I don't think he'd like this. Perhaps if I could
read the Bible all through, that would tell me everything.'
This thought reminded Stephen that he had promised his father to read his
chapter every day of his life till he knew how to read more; and,
carrying the old Bible to his favourite seat on the door-sill, a very
pleasant place in the cool, fresh summer morning, he read the verses
aloud, slowly and carefully, rather repeating than reading them, for he
knew his chapter better by heart than by the printed letters in the book.
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