They went in. It was a small place but a clean one, and the woman had a good-natured face. She was a German, and was broad and placid and comfortable. They bought some fresh rolls from her, and as she served them, and was making the change, Meg watched her anxiously. She was thinking that she did look very peaceable, indeed. So, instead of turning away from the counter, she planted herself directly before her and asked her a question.
“If you please,” she said, “we have some hard-boiled eggs to eat with our bread, and we are not going home. If we are very careful, would you mind if we ate our breakfast in here, instead of outside? We won’t let any of the crumbs or shells drop on the floor.”
“You not going home?” said the woman. “You from out town?”
“Yes,” answered Meg.
“You look like you wass goun to der Fair,” said the woman, with a good-tempered smile. “Who wass with you?”
“No one,” said Robin. “We are going alone. But we’re all right.”
“My crayshious!” said the woman. “But you wass young for that. But your ’Merican childrens is queer ones. Yes! You can sit down an’ eat your bregfast. That make no matter to me if you is careful. You can sit down.”
There were two chairs near a little table, where, perhaps, occasional customers ate buns, and they sat down to their rolls and eggs and salt, as to a feast.
“I was hungry,” said Rob, cracking his fourth egg.
“So was I!” said Meg, feeling that her fresh roll was very delicious.