This was spoken in her old curt manner, but her voice softened as she proceeded: "It's very nice of you, though, to want to take my part, but I think you'd better not. Do you know why the boys have taken to calling me 'Saint Melina'?"
He nodded. "Yes, because you don't abuse them and show your temper to them like you used to; they know you go to Sunday school now, and they say you've turned pious. I shouldn't mind being called 'Saint Melina' if I were you."
"I think you would—if you knew you were being mocked."
At that moment Mrs. Jones' voice was heard calling to her son to take a letter to post for her, and, with a friendly nod to Melina, the boy went to do her bidding.
Mrs. Berryman did not return for some hours later, not until past nine o'clock. Melina was still in her own room when she heard her grandmother come in; but the old woman called to her immediately, and she hastened downstairs.
"Here I am, Gran," she said, as she entered the kitchen where Mrs. Berryman had already sunk into a chair; "shall I get supper now?"
"Supper? No. I don't want any," was the response.
"But—but I do," Melina ventured to say; "you know I haven't had any tea."
Her grandmother laughed harshly. "It will do you no harm to fast," she said; "it will tame your spirit, Melina. Ah, ha! you won't be in such a hurry to complain of me to Mrs. Jones again! However, you can have some bread and cheese now if you like; I suppose I mustn't starve you."
She rose unsteadily, unlocked the corner cupboard, and cut her granddaughter a thick slice of bread and a small bit of cheese. Melina took this frugal supper in silence, thankful to get it, whilst Mrs. Berryman, having resumed her chair, fell into a doze, from which she presently awoke with a start.