"When, through the uncurtained window, they could see from their mother's movements that they might venture in, they gladly once more entered the little untidy room.
"Their mother had cut them each two slices of bread and dripping, and to this they sat down with ravenous appetites. Alas! much too soon were the pieces demolished, and the crumbs picked up off the comfortless bare table.
"'Ain't there any more?' asked the elder boy.
"'No, there ain't,' said his mother sharply; all the more sharply that she would have given anything to have been able to say yes instead of no.
"The big boy looked disappointed enough, and shuffled his feet about discontentedly.
"'What have yer got for dinner to-morrow?' he asked.
"'Usual fare,' said his mother; 'there ain't nothing but bread now-a-days, and not too much of that.'
"An ominous silence brooded over the only half-satisfied children, and the mother rocked the baby to and fro with a look on her face which was both sad and hopeless.
"'Why don't we have something nice, even if father's work is short? When it's plenty I should ha' thought we might ha' saved a bit,' grumbled the eldest.
"'Save!' exclaimed the poor mother, 'why, if we've got it, you know ye eat it, and if we ain't got it, we go without.'