“I’ve been shopping and rushing about” said Miss Dear disengaging a small crusty loaf from its paper bag. Miriam stared gloomily about and waited.
“Do you like haddock, dear?”
“Oh—well—I don’t know—yes I think I do.”
The fish smelled very savoury. It was wonderful and astonishing to know how to cook a real meal, in a tiny room; cheap ... the lovely little loaf and the wholesome solid fish would cost less than a small egg and roll and butter at an A.B.C. How did people find out how to do these things?
“You know how to cook?”
“Haddock doesn’t hardly need any cooking” said Miss Dear, shifting the fish about by its tail.
7
“What is your book dear?”
“Oh—Villette.”
“Is it a pretty book?”