"I am very sorry you should have had so much trouble," she said, stiffly and coldly. "Getting breakfast is my work, and I don't know that I thank anybody for taking it out of my hands. I am glad Eben feels in such good spirits, but I don't, and—"
Flora stopped short as her mother came out of her room.
"Dear me! Do tell if you have got breakfast ready!" said she. "I've been so broke of my rest lately with that poor baby, that when I get a chance, I kind of oversleep myself. How nice your chops look, Flora!"
"They are not mine," said Flora. "Eben and Mary have taken my work out of my hands this morning."
"So if you are poisoned, you must not blame Mary," said Eben.
"Do let's have our breakfast," said Flora, pettishly.
"I'm willing, for I haven't much time to spare. I want to be at the mill particularly early."
The breakfast was not a very cheerful one, in spite of Mary's attempts at conversation. Flora would neither talk nor eat, and Eben, though he answered Mary pleasantly and cheerfully, did not seem in as good spirits as usual. He got away as soon as he could, and was at the mill as quickly as Jeduthun himself.
"Good!" said Jeduthun. "This looks like work. Some one was up bright and early, I guess."
"That's so!" answered Eben. "I split up about half a cord of kindling wood before breakfast—that is, so to speak, you know, as Grandma Badger says. And, Jeduthun, while I have a chance, I want to tell you that I know you were right and I was wrong yesterday. I have been very neglectful of my work, and the reason was, as you say, because I have been trying to serve two masters, but I see my mistake, and I am going to try and do better."