But the beds were made of straw and corded underneath with ropes. So that lying upon them caused the children to roar loudly, and they found rest from their lamentations, four in a bed, on the bosom of Lydia.
And, supper being served, it consisted of tinted warm water and gooseberries sweetened with brown sugar.
Now Lydia, by reason of her connection with the club, was enabled to speak boldly, and she called for cream.
But the wife of the farmer made answer, saying, "We have none."
And Lydia spoke yet again, saying, "Why, O woman of many wiles, hast thou no cream?"
And the woman made way with an insect that swam gaily in a pitcher of azure milk, and said gently, "Because we sell it to a neighboring dairy."
And Lydia said nothing, but remembering the words of John, the tea-merchant, wept silently.
And it came to pass that next morning the children went forth to leap in the hay.
And the farmer led them firmly away from the hay-mow by the tip of the ear, saying, "I allow no children to spoil my fodder."
And the morning of the second day, the woman Lydia, being starved for nutritious food, wended her way with her babes across a stretch of pasture land in search of wild blackberries.