They were clearing the dining room. One long table was piled up with the used dishes. At the other, covered with rather worn enameled cloth, sat two women and one young man. Kate made a place for the child and 146 brought her a plate with most everything piled on it. Bridget, at home, was so much neater, but then she didn’t have so many hungry people to feed. And Jane with her dainty ways!
Oh, she was just a little bound-out nurse girl. She had danced and feasted with the prince; she had been in the palace with the fairy godmother where she was waited on as if she were a little lady. And there had been the Sunday ride with Dr. Richards. Was it all dreams?
She could not eat. The food was mostly cold. There was a big lump in her throat and a heaviness in her heart. How long and dreary the five years looked!
“I’m not hungry,” and she pushed the plate away.
“But you’ll have some pudding and some cream. I told you, Maggie, they’d stuff theirselves on that there puddin’! You can beat the band on that.”
“I’ll just have the cream,” the little girl said, timidly.
“Well you won’t last long to take care of them there babies if you can’t eat better’n 147 that!” said Katie. “I never see such squabs in my life!”
“Oh, Katie, that won’t do. They’re ‘Kate Greenaway’ children. Was she some one who fatted up young ones? Well, she’d better let ’em alone to my thinkin’. And their great round eyes! And the crossest things I ever did see! Mrs. Munson thought she’d have to give up t’ other side of the house.”
“Be careful,” cautioned Maggie, with a slight turn of the head.
Marilla ate her cream, and it really tasted good. Then she rose and said good-night in a quiet fashion.