"Must rise early," she said, "to see that my man has his breakfast."
So she lighted the fire, and put the kettle on to boil, and laid the cloth, and swept out the rooms. Then down came Bob rather in a bad humour, because he had been late over-night at the "Cock and Bottle," detained (as he explained to his wife) by a discussion about the rights of labour.
"Of course," said Mrs. Bull; "and why shouldn't you, after a hard day's work, enjoy yourself?"
But Bob contended that he had not enjoyed himself, although he had undoubtedly expended two shillings and eight-pence upon refreshment. What Bob wanted to know was, why there was a button off his coat, and why his waistcoat had not been properly mended.
"Well, I was busy with the children's things," replied Mrs. Bob; "but I will put all straight when you have gone to work."
"Gone to work, indeed!" grumbled Bob. "Yes, it's I that does all the work, and worse luck to it!"
The moment Bob was out of the house, Mrs. Bob got the children up and dressed them, and gave them their breakfasts and sent them off to school. When they were gone, she "tidied up" and dressed the baby. Then she did one of "the bits of washing," that came from a family in whose service she had been before she married Bob, and that family's connection. And this occupied her fully, what with soaking, and mangling and ironing, until it was time to carry Bob his dinner. In the pauses of her work she had been able to cook it, and it was quite ready to go with her when she was prepared to take it. It was a long walk (in the rain) to Bob's place of work, and it seemed the longer because she could not leave the baby. But both got there, and the dinner, without any accident. And then Mrs. Bob hurried back to give the children, now home from school, their midday meal. And Mrs. Bob had plenty of work to do afterwards. She had to mend, and to scrub, and to sweep, and to sew. She was not off her legs for a moment, and had she been a weaker woman, she would have been thoroughly done up. Then came the children's evening toilette and the cooking of Bob's supper. Her lord and master entered in due course, and she helped him off with his coat, and (when he had finished his food) lighted his pipe for him.
"Mended my clothes?" asked Bob.
"Of course I have."
"And washed my linen, and druv nails into my boots, and baked the bread, and pickled the walnuts, and all the rest of it?"