CHAPTER XXIV.

if she could sell her collection of herbs she could get money, and so get. food for him. J oconda never would sell herbs; she gave all away. She had said that God’s alllicted were not. there for her to make pence out of, and thus to Musa it had always seemed im- possible to turn her simples into coin. But now she thought it would be honest deal- ing; no shame in it, and no robbery. She was glad she had gathered and dried so many plants in the hot autumn weather. She had a large stock of herbs of all kinds, sweet and bitter; some medicinal, some for kitchen uses. Joconda, had taught her all

their various properties, and in the autumn