[CHAPTER V]
A RENOVATED HOME
MRS. BROWN was surprised to find how steadily Jessie kept on with her work of house-cleaning. Of course, it was something new and novel, and Mrs. Brown thought that when the novelty wore off, Jessie would get tired of sweeping and scrubbing and making things tidy, especially as she also had to run up and down stairs to wait upon her mother.
But she never flagged in this duty. She made fresh barley-water every day, and when the doctor ordered beef-tea she asked her new-found friend how it was to be made, and was most careful to see that the saucepan was quite clean before she put the meat into it.
Of course, the cleaning was far from perfect. The windows were not as clear and bright as well-cleaned windows should be, and the floor had streaks of dirt in places, as well as other failures that a careful housewife like Mrs. Brown could not fail to notice; but she was careful to say little of these failings just at first, but to commend Jessie for trying to make home more comfortable now that she was free to do it. Mrs. Brown soon discovered from chance words that Mrs. Collins not only disliked house-cleaning herself, but hated anything to be disturbed by other people doing it. So Jessie had never been taught or encouraged to try and do anything beyond running errands for her mother and washing a few tea-things occasionally.
By Saturday night, however, the house had been cleaned from top to bottom, and when Collins walked into the kitchen, with its bright, clean grate, he stared with amazement at the changed appearance of his home.
"I hope mother ain't no worse than when you sent to tell me she was ill," he said, wondering what the change might portend.
"No, father, she's better," said Jessie, who had just come down from her mother's room. "I'm making her some beef-tea," she added proudly, lifting the lid of the steaming saucepan on the hob.
"And who told you to do that?" asked Collins, putting his basket down in the corner. "And who told you to have this rout out?" he asked, with another look at the renovated kitchen.
"Why, the doctor said I must rub things a bit, and have clean things for mother; and Mrs. Brown lent me the sheets I wanted."