"Is there anybody in the house that can make beef tea?"
"No, sir," said Norton.
"If you will tell me how, Dr. Bird, I will have some," Matilda said.
"You, eh? Well, you do know something more than most girls. You can remember and follow directions, if I tell you, eh?"
"Yes, sir, I think I can."
"Then I'll tell you. You take a piece of juicy beef—he can see to that—juicy beef; not a poor cut, mind, nor fat; mustn't be any fat; and you cut it into dice; and when you have cut it all up fine, you put it in a bottle, and cork it up. Understand?"
"Yes, sir. But I don't know what dice are."
"Don't, eh? well, little bits as big as the end of my finger, will do as well as dice. Then when you have got your bottle corked, set it in a pot of water, and put the pot on the fire, and let it boil, till the juice of the beef comes out. Then strain that juice. That's beef tea."
"I mustn't put any water in with the beef, sir?—in the bottle?"
"Not a drop. Keep the water all in the pot."