"Did he come?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"He called it collapse."
"How clever of him!"
"I have left the tea-things for you to wash, and will you please get supper?"
"You needn't talk like that. I'm willing to do my share."
"You shirked it today, and though I know you're frightened of her, that's no excuse for leaving me alone."
Miriam leaned on the table and asked in a gentler voice, "Is she likely to be ill long?"
"It's very likely."