“Thanks to Biddy Lanigan, and Little Jess, too,” shouted Wild Kate, and the cry echoed from one end of the room to the other.
But the girls had not long to tarry over this new and joyous scene. They all had to reach their workshops on time, or be cut short in wages, and soon they were all speeding away to their various destinations.
And Jessie sat down for the first time in many a long, sad day to a full, substantial meal, with time enough allowed her to eat it. And when it was time to clear up the table and wash the dishes, she went to her work with a song on her lips and gladness in her heart. Hitherto sighs and tears had accompanied her labors.
When Miss Scrimp sat down to her breakfast, which was no better than the boarders had just enjoyed, Biddy was the first to speak.
“Worra! but wasn’t I mad with the stame and the hate when I was a-cookin’ the breakfast sure. But when I saw how good the girl craythurs felt, and how thankful they were, sure the mad all went off, and I felt like I do when the praste hears me at confession and says it’s all right. ‘Biddy, go along wid ye, say all your prayers, and be a good woman.’”
“It costs awful,” was all Miss Scrimp said, but there was a whole volume of misery in the sigh which followed her words.
“I’ll keep it up if I can,” she continued. “If I can’t, why I can’t.”
“What sot ye to doin’ it?” asked Biddy.
The question confused Miss Scrimp. Not for any consideration would she have Biddy know the truth. It would have ruined her in Biddy’s estimation if the latter had known she had succumbed to the demands of the cheapest boarder in the house.
“I thought I’d just try a change,” she said. “I’d got so sick of hearin’ the girls grumble and growl, I thought I’d see what real good feedin’ would do with them.”