"And by so doing put extra work on poor Ben," Ruth told him, decidedly. "No, Aunt Alvirah must have another woman around, or a girl."
"Where ye goin' to find the gal?" snapped the miller. "Work gals don't like to stay in the country."
"She's found, I believe," Ruth told him.
"Huh?"
"This Maggie we just got out of the river. She has no job, she says, and she wants one. I believe she'll stay."
"Who's goin' to pay her wages?" demanded Uncle Jabez, getting back to "first principles" again.
"I'll pay the girl's wages, Uncle Jabez," Ruth said seriously. "But you must feed her. And she must be fed well, too. I can see that part of her trouble is malnutrition."
"Huh? Has she got some ketchin' disease?" Uncle Jabez demanded.
"It isn't contagious," Ruth replied drily. "But unless she is well fed she cannot be cured of it."
"Wal, there's plenty of milk and eggs," the miller said.