“You are very kind,” said Harry Edgham, and he went out of the kitchen as one who beats a retreat before superior forces.

“Maria, you just bring me the eggs, and a clean cup,” said Mrs. White.  “Poor man, trying to cook eggs!” said she of Maria’s father, after he had gone.  She was one of the women who always treat men with a sort of loving pity, as if they were children.  “Here is some nice bacon,” said she, rummaging in the pantry.  “The eggs will be real nice with bacon.  Now, Maria, you look in the ice-chest and see if there are any cold potatoes that can be warmed up.  There’s plenty of bread in the jar, and we’ll toast that.  We’ll have breakfast in a jiffy.  Doctors do have a hard life, and Miss Bell, she ought to have her nourishment too, if she’s goin’ to take care of your mother.”

When Maria returned from the ice-box, which stood out in the woodshed, with a plate of cold potatoes, Mrs. White was sniffing at the coffee-pot.

“For goodness sake, who made this?” said she.

“Father.”

“How much did he put in?”

“He put in a little pinch.”

“It looks like water bewitched,” said Mrs. White.  “Bring me the coffee canister.  You know where that is, don’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Maria watched Mrs. White pour out the coffee which her father had made, and start afresh in the proper manner.

“Men are awful helpless, poor things,” said Mrs. White.  “This sink is in an awful condition.  Did your father empty all this truck in it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, I must clean it out, as soon as I get the other things goin’, or the dreen will be stopped up.”  Mrs. White’s English was not irreproachable, but she was masterful.

Maria continued to stand numbly in the middle of the kitchen, watching Mrs. White, who looked at her uneasily.

“You must be a good girl, and trust in the Lord,” said she, and she tried to make her voice sharp.  “Now, don’t stand there lookin’ on; just fly round and do somethin’.  I don’t believe but the dinin’-room needs dustin’.  You find somethin’ and dust the dinin’-room real nice, while I get the breakfast.”

Maria obeyed, but she did that numbly, without any realization of the task.

The morning wore on.  The doctors, one at a time came down, and the nurse came down, and they ate a hearty breakfast.  Maria watched them, and hated them because they could eat while her mother was so ill.  Miss Bell also ate heartily, and she felt that she hated her.  She was glad that her father refused anything except a cup of coffee.  As for herself, Mrs. White made her drink an egg beaten up with milk.  “If you won’t eat your breakfast, you’ve got to take this,” said she.

Mrs. White took her own breakfast in stray bites, while she was clearing away the table.  She stayed, and put the house in order, until Maria’s aunt Maria arrived.  One of the physicians went away.  For a short time Maria’s mother’s groans and wailings recommenced, then the smell of chloroform was strong throughout the house.