“No, thank you, I don’t want anything until it is time for you all to have your supper, or whatever you call your evening meal. If I get too desperately hungry before that time comes, I will go into the kitchen and sample the good things there, for it is evident I have come to a land of plenty,” Mrs. Bronson said gaily.
“There is no lack of food, certainly; only I fear that to you our mode of life will seem rather rough. But if Miss Hamblyn is back soon, it won’t be so bad, as she will attend to the customers, and I can look after the children. Shall I show you your room? it is quite ready,” Gertrude said rather anxiously, for Mrs. Peters and the babies had disappeared, and there were a number of things requiring her attention.
“No, Flossie will do that, and then if she has any duties, I will help her to do them, or if it is play, I can help at that too.”
“It isn’t play,” said the child, with a shy smile; “I get tea ready, when I come from school, then I clear it away, and wash up. Sometimes I help Nell in the kitchen, when there are a lot of customers, because Patsey has to chop wood, and do that sort of thing.”
“Ah, everyone works here, I can see, so it will not do for me to be idle. What a nice bedroom, and how exquisitely clean; why, it will be really a treat to sleep here!” exclaimed Mrs. Bronson, with an air of keen appreciation.
“Nell cleaned it all out this morning, very early, and Gertrude put it straight at dinner-time,” said Flossie, who was watching the new inmate with grave admiration in her eyes.
“Gertrude is Miss Lorimer, and your sister, I suppose?” said Mrs. Bronson. “Then who is Nell—Miss Hamblyn?”
“Yes, only she is our sister too, because she has adopted us,” said Flossie.
“What do you mean?” asked Mrs. Bronson, in astonishment.
Flossie plunged into a more or less incoherent version of all that Nell had done for them, when they were left orphans, but had to stop abruptly in the middle, partly from want of breath, and partly because it was time for her to get tea ready; and to-night, Gertrude would need as much help as she could give her.