“Jackson,” said cook, now stouter and apparently shorter than ever, “would be down directly.” Would Erb let her cut for him a sandwich or a snack of—well, Erb could please himself, cook’s own motto in the matter of feeding was, “Little and often,” but it had never been her way to force her opinions on other people, in which particular her motto was “Interfere with nobody, and nobody will interfere with you.” Cook had many other aphorisms to impart, and seemed a little hurt when Alice came into the kitchen and claimed her brother with a kiss that had about it unexpected affection.
“I’ve been worrying about you day and night,” declared Alice. “I never thought anything would upset me so much.”
“Wonder you don’t ask after Jessie,” interrupted cook.
“Jessie who?” demanded Erb.
“Just Jessie! Thought you was rather struck on her. She’s with a family travelling abroad now. Tall girl with eyes.”
“I’d forgotten all about her.”
“Ah!” sighed the cook. “That’s a man all over. It’s the old saying over again—”
“And I told Lady Frances,” continued Alice, leaving cook to mutter to a large joint of beef turning before a desperately fierce fire, “and you’re to see her, Erb, directly after dinner.”
“What’s in the wind?”
“That’s more than I can tell you. But I’m very glad you’ve cut your connection with all those common working men.”