“Her knees is bad too,” added Kettles, as if unwilling to have the matter too slightly treated.
“Ah! I don’t wonder,” said Nurse sympathetically, “kneeling about in the damp so much as she’s forced to.”
Nancy, who had noticed that Kettles’ eyes were straying over the eatables on the table, here nudged Nurse with her elbow.
“Wouldn’t she like some bread and honey?” she whispered.
“This little lady wants to know if you’d like some bread and honey?” repeated Nurse aloud condescendingly.
Kettles made no answer, though there was a sudden gleam in her eyes.
“Perhaps you don’t like honey?” ventured Pennie slyly.
“Don’t know what it is,” answered Kettles. “I like bread and dripping.”
“Oh, I’m sure it must be much nicer than that,” said Nancy. “That doesn’t sound at all nice. May I spread some for her?” she asked eagerly of Nurse.
It is doubtful if Nurse quite liked such a use made of her honey, for she thought dripping more suitable for such as Kettles, but she could not refuse Nancy anything. So she answered readily enough,—“To be sure, my dear,” and made no objection; while Nancy, choosing the biggest piece of toast, proceeded to plaster it thickly with honey. When, however, these preparations being finished, she dragged up a chair and hospitably invited Kettles to take a seat between herself and Pennie, Nurse felt it time to protest.