but more from mere curiosity to "see how they took it."
This was one of the hardest  they had to bear, and Tom used
strong language more than once, when some fine lady came to
condole, and went away to gossip. Polly's  of Mrs. Shaw
were disappointed, for misfortune did not have a bracing effect.
She took to her bed at once, received her friends in tears and a
point-lace cap, and cheered her family by plaintively inquiring
when she was to be taken to the almshouse. This was hard for
Fanny; but after an interval of , she came to the conclusion
that under the circumstances it was the best  her mother could
have done, and with something of her father's energy, Fanny
shouldered the new burden, feeling that at last necessity had given
her what she had long needed, something to do.

The poor girl knew as much of household affairs as Snip; but 
and the resolution "to stand by Father," kept up her courage, and
she worked away with feverish activity at whatever task came first
till, just as strength and  were about to fail, order began to
emerge from chaos and the vision of a home made happy and
comfortable by her skill and  came to repay and sustain her.

Maud, being