Her landlady entered.
'Oh, I thought, Miss Hood,' she began, 'you'd maybe rung the bell as usual, and I hadn't heard it. I do sometimes think I'm getting a little hard of hearing; my husband tell me of it. Will you have the tea made?'
'Thank you, Mrs. Willis,' Emily replied, rising.
She opened a low cupboard beside the fireplace, took out a tea-pot, and put some tea into it.
'You'd have a long walk, I suppose,' continued the woman, 'and delightful weather for it, too. But you must mind as you don't over-tire yourself. You don't look very strong, if I may say it.'
'Oh, I am very well,' was the mechanical reply.
After a few more remarks the landlady took away the teapot. Emily then drew out a cloth from the cupboard, and other things needful for her evening meal. Presently the tea-pot returned filled with hot water. Emily was glad to pour out a cup and drink it, but she ate nothing. In a short time she rang the bell to have the things removed. This time a little girl appeared.
'Eh, Miss,' was the exclamation of the child, on examining the state of the table, 'you haven't eaten nothing!'
'No, I don't want anything just now, Milly,' was the quiet reply.
'Shall I leave the bread and butter out?'