Jessie looked dismayed. "I don't believe we've got a broom," she said, scratching her head. "Father broke the last, hitting mother with it. He said if she wouldn't use it he would; and then the handle broke, and mother put it all on the fire."
"Have you found a pail?" asked Mrs. Brown; "because I must go home for a few minutes to see about the dinner, and I will bring some things back with me."
A look round the yard and scullery followed, but very little was found, and at length Mrs. Brown said—
"You had better come with me, Jessie, and I will lend you what you want for to-day; and then if you cannot find your own things, you must ask your father to buy some when he comes home on Saturday."
It was Jessie's first visit to Fanny's home, and she looked round the neat, tidy kitchen in amazement.
"Oh, I say, I know how it is Fanny likes going to service! She knew how to keep a place nice, and to tidy before she went. But the missis was always scolding me for the things getting dirty."
"Well, you know, it is never too late to mend, Jessie," said her new friend. "And now you have a good opportunity of doing many useful things, for your mother requires a great deal of care, the doctor says."
"Will you show me how to make our kitchen like this?" asked the girl. "Why, if father could only have a place like this to sit in when he comes home from work, I don't believe he would want to go to the public of an evening; and he'll soon come back here to work, I expect."
"Well, my girl, you ought to be able to make things comfortable for your father and mother too. I will certainly do what I can to help you get things straight for him before Saturday."
"I shall have to send Polly for some soap and soda and things to clean with;" which reminded Mrs. Brown that the clean rags that had been thrown aside lately would be handy for cleaning windows and dusting furniture, for it would be too much to expect that dusters would be found in the Collins's household.