‘Of course I should pay Hope,’ I answered decidedly; and when the beef-tea was ready I called Peggy and sent her on my errand.  One glance at the place showed me that I could do nothing for my patient without help.  Happily, I had seen some sheets drying by the kitchen fire, but they would hardly be ready for us before the evening; but when Mrs. Marshall had taken her beef-tea I covered her up and tried to smooth the untidy quilt.  Then, telling her that we were going to make her room a little more comfortable, I pinned up my dress and enveloped myself in a holland apron ready for work.

Peggy came back at this moment with a big, strapping girl of sixteen, who looked strong and willing.  She was evidently not a woman of words, but she grinned cheerful acquiescence when I set her to work on the grate, while I cleared the table and carried out all the miscellaneous articles that littered the floor.

Mrs. Marshall watched us with astonished eyes.  ‘Oh dear! oh dear!’ I heard her say to herself, ‘and a lady too!’ but I took no notice.

I sent Hope once or twice across to her mother for various articles we needed,—­black lead, a scrubbing-brush, some house flannel and soft soap,—­and when she had finished the grate I set her to scrub the floor, as it was black with dirt.  I was afraid of the damp boards for my patient, but I covered her up as carefully as possible, and pinned some old window-curtains across the bed.  Neglect and want of cleanliness had made the air of the sick-room so fetid and poisonous that one could hardly breath it with safety.

Now and then I looked in the other room and spoke a cheerful word to granny.  Peggy was doing her best for the children, but the poor baby seemed very fretful.  Towards noon two rough-headed boys made their appearance and began clamouring for their dinner.  The same untidy young woman whom I had seen before came clattering up the yard again in her clogs and helped Peggy spread great slices of bread and treacle for the hungry children, and warmed some food for the baby.  I saw granny trying to eat a piece of bread and dripping that they gave her and then lay it down without a word:  no wonder her poor cheeks were so white and sunken.

Mrs. Drabble had promised me some more beef-tea, so I warmed a cupful for granny and broke up a slice of stale bread in it:  it was touching to see her enjoyment of the warm food.  The eldest boy, Tim, was nearly eleven years old, and looked a sharp little fellow, so I set him to clean up the kitchen with Peggy and make things a little tidier, and promised some buns to all the children who had clean faces and hands at tea-time.

I left Hope still at work when I went up to the White Cottage to eat some dinner.  Mrs. Barton had made a delicate custard-pudding, which I carried off for the invalid’s and granny’s supper.  My young healthy appetite needed no tempting, and my morning’s work had only whetted it.  I did not linger long in my pretty parlour, for a heavy task was before me.  I was determined the sick-room should have a different appearance the next morning.