Part 9 (1/2)
”Yes,” answered Meg, ”if it would be a comfort to you.”
Mrs. Seymour looked exceedingly relieved.
”Can you come at once?” she asked.
”When I have made some bread,” answered Meg, ”and tidied up a bit.”
”Bread?” said Mrs. Seymour.
Meg smiled.
”I'm going to try; and if I succeed I'll bring you a loaf, mother!
Please don't think I'm a new broom!”
”You're a _nice_ broom!” said her mother-in-law, with rare enthusiasm, ”and I'll come down to see you make it one of these days. Dear, dear, can you make bread, to be sure? I've often wished to see it done!”
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHAPTER VII.
THE EMPTY PAN.
It was Sat.u.r.day, and Meg had plenty to do, so that her mother-in-law's wish to have her at once was a little confusing.
When she got down to her own room again her fire was low, her breakfast table untidy, and things less bright and orderly than they had been once since her marriage.
She felt inclined to go up to her mother-in-law and excuse herself for to-day; but the remembrance of Jenny's breach of faith made her pause.
”No,” she said to herself, ”even if my bread has to be given up for to-day I must not disappoint mother.”
She ran up again and tapped at Mrs. Seymour's door.
”Mother, I want to arrange my work; how long will your ironing take me?”
”Why,” answered Mrs. Seymour, ”I've got behind this week, else I do say if they won't bring it to me before Friday, I can't do it! But you see, my dear, I've to take it pretty much as I find it. Poor folks haven't many clothes, and when they spare them, they want them done up quick. These came in yesterday, and if Jenny had come to her time, they'd have been half done by now.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: She sat holding it, the mother looking on at Meg's swift gentle ways.--p. 75.]
”And they will take----?” began Meg.
”Three hours at least,” answered Mrs. Seymour.
”All right,” answered Meg, ”I'll be up in about an hour. I must set Jem's dinner on.”
She hastened away, and Mrs. Seymour turned into the bed-room to see after her invalid lodger.