Dan said:
“For all your mercies—” He closed his eyes and mumbled the rest.
Then Mrs Hogg cut liberal slices of the pease pudding and helped Nesta and the two children. She gave Nesta the largest share. Nesta disliked pease pudding as much as she disliked fried herring, but that did not matter; she was so hungry now that she ate it. The pease pudding was followed by a dumpling, which the boys greatly appreciated. There were currants in it, so few that to search for them was most exciting and caused “Hurras!” and “Hoorays!” to sound through the cottage. This was a dinner which was, as the boys expressed it, “filling.”
“Seems to puff you out,” said Ben.
“Seems to stuff you up,” said Dan.
“Out you both go now,” said Mrs Hogg, and she and Nesta were alone. Mrs Hogg washed up and put the place in perfect order. She then sat down by the table, put on her spectacles, and opened her Bible.
“Ain’t you got a Bible with you?” she said.
“No,” replied Nesta, “I haven’t got anything with me.”
“Shall I read aloud to you, Miss?”
“No, thank you,” replied Nesta.