"But you ought to know. Come, make haste—a bundle of wood, quick! The children must leave in half an hour."
Betty bustles about, and manages to get some sort of meal ready in time.
Breakfast over, and the children gone to school, she returns to the kitchen.
Things cannot be allowed to go on like this. She must talk to Clara.
But what can she say? Clara is so used to scolding, that she cares nothing for it. No, she must try to reason with her; she must teach her to think.
Wise Betty! Perplexed and troubled, she turns into the now deserted sitting-room for a few moments, and asks the Lord to help her. Then she goes back.
"Clara," she begins, "I have to go out this morning to look after some of father's business. I shall have to go out a good deal, for the work must be done, and is not easy to do; indeed, I can't do it at all unless you help me."
Clara opens her eyes very wide at this.
"I see you wonder what I mean. You must help me by getting all your work nicely forward, and the dinner prepared before I get back. Now, just look at this kitchen; I don't believe it's been swept since the day before yesterday; has it, Clara?"
Clara is silent; and begins biting the corner of her apron sulkily.