'I am going to learn,' says she.
'Well,' said I, 'you can look on and learn.'
'I will do it and learn,' says sheand she marched right up to me and untied my big apron and put it on herself; for I don't believe then she had an apron belonging to her.'
Without ceasing to keep watch of the window, Dane's eyes gave token of hearing and heeding, growing large and soft, with a flash coming across them now and then.
'It's a nice business to hinder Miss Wych when she has a mind,' Mrs. Bywank went on; 'but I couldn't see her tiring herself over the fireso I said, 'But my dear, think of your hands! No gloves!'
'What about my hands?' says she.
'Cooking is bad for them, Miss Wych,' says I.
'Is it?' said she. 'Well, they've had their share of being ornamental.
What is the first thing to do, Byo?'
'So I felt desperate,and said I, 'My dear, when Mr. Rollo comes back he will not like to find your hands any different from what they are now.'She turned round upon me so,' said Mrs. Bywank laughing a little, 'that I didn't know what she would say to me for my impertinence. However, she only gave me one great look out of her eyes, and then stood looking down at her hands, and then she ran off,and was gone a good little while. And I felt so bad I couldn't set to work nor anything, till at last I knew it must be done, and I told the girl to set the kettle on. And just then back she came, lookingWell, you'll know some day, sir, how Miss Wych can look,' said Mrs. Bywank with dim eyes. 'However, the gloves were on; and she just took hold, steady and quiet as an old hand, and never opened her lips but to ask a question. Of course I sat by and directed, and I kept a girl there to lift and run; but from that day Miss Wych made every single thing that went to the Hollow or to you, sirwith her own little fingers. So that kept her fast all the mornings.'
Dane's eyes did not leave the window. His lips took a firmer compression.