Tears rose in Beth's eyes. "I don't want broth."
"Oh, yes, you do, dearie." Mrs. Davenport left the room to get the broth. Maggie went to the bed and drew out the chicken.
"Quick, honey, yo' eat it while she's gone and she need neber know."
Beth's eyes feasted on the chicken for a second or two. She halfway put out a hand for it, but quickly drew it back again.
"No, Maggie, it wouldn't be honorable."
"Law, child, yo'd bettah eat it. Yo'r maw'll find me with it, and den she'll blame me."
Beth held out her hand for the plate. She looked at the chicken very longingly, and Maggie thought that she had made up her mind to eat it. She did take up the meat, but she held it out to Duke, saying:
"It'll be honorable for you to eat it. Duke, and then mamma'll never blame Maggie. It was very nice of you, Maggie, to get it for me, but I couldn't deceive mamma."
Duke gulped the meat down at one swallow much to the envy of Beth. She held out the empty plate to Maggie.
"Take it away, Maggie. The smell of it makes me so dreadfully hungry."