"Yes, mother, perhaps I can get into the cook-house, that can easily be done."
"You do it then, and if the others say anything——"
"That won't worry me, mother——"
She sighs. Her face is a white gleam in the darkness.
"Now you must go to sleep, mother."
She does not reply. I get up and wrap my cover round her shoulders.
She supports herself on my arm, she is in pain. And so I take her to her room. I stay with her a little while.
"And you must get well again, mother, before I come back."
"Yes, yes, my child."
"You ought not to send your things to me, mother. We have plenty to eat out there. You can make much better use of them here."