“So did I, as long as I went anywhere to school.  I had to go to work when I was twelve.”

Nelson’s amazement took shape before his courtesy had a chance to control it.  “I didn’t suppose you ever did any work in your life!” cried he.

“I guess I haven’t done much else.  Father died when I was twelve and the oldest of five, the next only eight—­Polly, that came between Eb and me, died—­naturally I had to work.  I was a nurse-girl by the day, first; and I never shall forget how kind the woman was to me.  She gave me so much dinner I never needed to eat any breakfast, which was a help.”

“You poor little thing!  I’m afraid you went hungry sometimes.”  Immediately he marvelled at his familiar speech, but she did not seem to resent it.

“No, not so often,” she said, musingly; “but I used often and often to wish I could carry some of the nice things home to mother and the babies.  After a while she would give me a cookey or a piece of bread and butter for lunch; that I could take home.  I don’t suppose I’ll often have more pleasure than I used to have then, seeing little Eb waiting for sister; and the baby and mother ——­” She stopped abruptly, to continue, in an instant, with a kind of laugh; “I am never likely to feel so important again as I did then, either.  It was great to have mother consulting me, as if I had been grown up.  I felt like I had the weight of the nation on my shoulders, I assure you.”

“And have you always worked since?  You are not working out now?” with a glance at her shining gown.

“Oh, no, not for a long time.  I learned to be a cook.  I was a good cook, too, if I say it myself.  I worked for the Lossings for four years.  I am not a bit ashamed of being a hired girl, for I was as good a one as I knew how.  It was Mrs. Lossing that first lent me books; and Harry Lossing, who is head of the firm now, got Ebenezer into the works.  Ebenezer is shipping-clerk with a good salary and stock in the concern; and Ralph is there, learning the trade.  I went to the business-college and learned book-keeping, and afterward I learned typewriting and shorthand.  I have been working for the firm for fourteen years.  We have educated the girls.  Milly is married, and Kitty goes to the boarding-school, here.”

“Then you haven’t been married yourself?”

“What time did I have to think of being married? 
I had the family on my mind, and looking after them.”

“That was more fortunate for your family than it was for my sex,” said Nelson, gallantly.  He accompanied the compliment by a glance of admiration, extinguished in an eye-flash, for the white radiance that had bathed the deck suddenly vanished.

“Now you will see a lovely sight,” said the woman, deigning no reply to his tribute; “listen!  That is the signal.”

The air was shaken with the boom of cannon.  Once, twice, thrice.  Directly the boat-whistles took up the roar, making a hideous din.  The fleet had moved.  Spouting rockets and Roman candles, which painted above it a kaleidoscopic archway of fire, welcomed by answering javelins of light and red and orange and blue and green flares from the shore; the fleet bombarded the bridge, escorted Neptune in his car, manoeuvred and massed and charged on the blazing city with a many-hued shower of flame.