Maria lifted her hand to knock, but stopped when she heard a woman speaking.Pastor, I met the most pathetic-looking girl yesterday, the voice said.Where was that?Here at the church . . .Maria felt her face burning with shame. She had fallen into disgrace, but not far enough to endure the term pathetic.* * *Did you come to the Ladies' Aid Meeting? the woman asked.Yeah. I came for aid, Maria answered, trying to control the bitterness in her voice. I came for aid yesterday, but you asked me to eat and I did. I came again today to see if you needed a janitor to clean the church, but I know you don't, so I'll leave. * * * Maria Grant feels she at her wit's end-hungry, weary, and bedraggled-all for the love of a boy. Why did she leave her loving family to be near Orville? He didn't care one iota for her. She had sunk so low, all because of Orville.