Part 3 (2/2)

The tea was laid on the table--the coa.r.s.e brown loaf, the pat of b.u.t.ter, the huge jug of skim milk, and the teapot full of weak tea.

The children all came in hungry from school. Alison returned from her bedroom with red eyes. She cut the bread into thick slices, put a sc.r.a.pe of b.u.t.ter on each slice, and helped her brothers and sisters.

The meal was a homely one, but perfectly nouris.h.i.+ng. The children all looked fat and well cared for. Grannie took great pride in their rosy faces, and in their plump, firm limbs. She and Alison between them kept all the family together. She made plenty of money with her beautiful needlework, and Alison put the eight s.h.i.+llings which she brought home every Sat.u.r.day night from the shop into the common fund.

She had her dinner at the shop, which was also a great help. Dave was beginning to earn about half a crown a week, which kept him in shoes and added a very tiny trifle to the general purse; but Harry was still not only an expense, but an anxiety to the family. The three younger children were, of course, all expense at present, but Grannie's feather-st.i.tching and lovely work and Alison's help kept the little family well-off. As the old woman watched them all to-night, she laughed softly under her breath at the stupid mistake the doctor had made.

”Ef he had said anything but writers' cramp, I might 'a' been nervous,”

she said to herself, ”but writers' cramp aint possible to anyone as don't write. I don't place much store by doctors after that stoopid mistake; no, that I don't.”

Alison's face was very pale. She scarcely spoke during tea. The children were surprised to see her at home both for dinner and tea, and began to question her.

”Now, you shet up, you little curiosity boxes,” said Grannie, in her brisk, rather aggressive voice. ”Ally is at home--well, because she is.”

”Oh, Grannie! what sort of answer is that?” cried Polly, the youngest girl.

”It's the only one you'll get, Miss Pry,” replied Grannie.

The other children laughed, and began to call Polly ”Miss Pry,” and attention was completely diverted from Alison.

After the tea-things had been washed and the children had settled down to their books and different occupations, there came a knock at the door, and Hardy entered.

Alison was in her bedroom.

”Set down, Mr. Hardy,” said Grannie, if her cheerful voice. ”You've come to see Ally, I suppose?”

”Yes, if I may,” answered the young man, an anxious expression on his face.

”To be sure you may; who more welcome? Children, run into my bedroom, dears. I'll turn on the gas and you can study your books in there.

Run now, and be quick about it.”

”It's so cold,” said Polly.

”Tut, tut, not another word; scatter, all of you.”

The children longed particularly to stay; they were very fond of Hardy, who generally brought them sweets. Polly's quick eyes had seen a white parcel sticking out of his pocket. It was horrid to have to go into Grannie's bedroom. It was an icy-cold room; just, too, when the kitchen was most enticing. They had to go, however, and Grannie shut the door behind them.

”Poor things, it will be cold for them in there,” said the young man.

”Tut, tut,” answered Grannie again, ”you don't want 'em to be brought up soft and lazy and good for naught. Now then, Jim, set down and make yourself at home.”

”How is she?” asked Hardy, speaking in a low voice, and raising his handsome eyes to the old lady's face.

Grannie's eyes blazed in reply.

”How do you expect her to be?” she answered. ”Publicly shamed as she were; I wonder you didn't take her part, Jim, that I do.”

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