“No, you must stay in bed until your lumbago is all gone,” insisted Nan. “I’ll bring you up another hot iron as soon as you take your toast and tea.”
“Yes, heat is the best thing for lumbago,” said Mrs. Pry. “That and my liniment will cure me, I expect. But my liniment is nearly gone. And how to get more I don’t know.”
“Bert will get it for you,” offered Nan kindly.
The afternoon passed. Bert got out on the porch in his big coat and rubber boots and cleared away some of the snow. Flossie and Freddie wanted to go out with him, but Nan would not allow this. She got the smaller twins into a room where they could not see Bert at work with the snow shovel, and told them stories.
“How is it outside, Bert?” asked Nan when her brother came in, having cleared the side door against which the big drift had blown.
“Pretty bad,” he answered. “It seems to snow harder than ever, and the wind is blowing and it’s getting colder. I’m glad we’re inside with a warm fire and plenty to eat.”
“That’s just the trouble,” said Nan in a low voice. “We haven’t plenty to eat, Bert.”
“Not enough to eat—what do you mean?”
“Well, I mean we haven’t any bread. I toasted the last of it for Mrs. Pry. There’s no bread for supper.”
“I’ll go to the store and get a loaf,” Bert offered.