"I made some porridge, Mrs. Seymour; and what's more they've eat it, and said it's as good as yours."
"Oh, I am glad!" said Meg, heartily. "When they get used to it, you see if they don't say it's better than mine."
Mrs. Blunt laughed at that, but she knew enough of children by this time to guess that Meg was right.
When she was gone down to wash her dishes, Meg sat down on her low chair with the baby, and drew little Pattie to her knee to hear a story. She told them about the Good Shepherd who loves little lambs, and how He gave His life to save the little lambs from being lost.
Pattie's eyes were very wide open, and she listened as long as there was any "story" in Meg's words. Then when she began to grow fidgety Meg got her to learn the one word "Jesus," and after that she sang to them till their mother came back.
"Now I'm going to fetch my mother-in-law," said Meg; "she's coming to have a cup of early tea with us, while the bread is baking. I do not look at it yet, because I want the oven to keep hot, and I know it will not burn yet."
"If the baker bakes my bread for me, I shall be saved all that," said Mrs. Blunt.
"Yes, so you will; and as your loaves will be large it would be a great help, because a baker's oven is such a nice even heat. Still it is nice to know how to do it."
"Oh yes," said Mrs. Blunt. "I did not mean that."