She looked strangely pale, and the dazed expression in her eyes had increased. The little child on her knee lay motionless, and when Mrs. Holdfast came near, Martha shielded the tiny face from observation.
"He's off—sound!" she said hoarsely.
"Well, let him be a few minutes," said Sarah cheerfully. "Don't you get up yet. I'm sure you're not fit. Now, Millie, Bobbie—wake up, wake up."
She aroused the two drowsy children; and Bobbie at once broke into fretting sobs. "I'm so hungry! I'm so hungry!" he wailed.
Martha made no response at all, but Sarah took him to the table, and Bobbie's pitiful face changed into smiles at the sight of bread and butter. When he and Millie were supplied, Sarah hastened away for the "pinch of tea."
On her return, she found Martha still in the same position, passive and white as an image, only with a bewildered wildness in her eyes. There was again the shielding motion of both hands to hide baby Harry's face. Mrs. Holdfast noticed it now, and wondered, but said nothing till the tea was ready. Then she poured out a cup, hot and strong, and brought it with a goodly slice of bread and butter to Martha's side.
"That'll do you good," she said. "And you'll let me see to Harry, won't you? It's time he should have something."
"No, he's sound—sound;" repeated Martha in a hollow voice.
"Baby Harry hasn't eaten nothing all day," said Millie.
"Then he oughtn't to wait, I'm sure. Give him to me."