To Dick the cleanness and neatness meant nothing, the rag mat before
the hearth was the most luxurious thing he had ever seen in the whole
of his life, and he stretched his lanky aching body on it with a deep
sigh of perfect bliss, and promptly fell asleep.
Huldah and old Mrs. Perry meanwhile stood in the middle of the
kitchen surveying each other.
"Sit down, child," said Martha, at last, "you look fit to drop."
She spoke brusquely but not unkindly.
"Thank you, ma'am," said Huldah, gratefully, and perched herself,
with a long-drawn breath of excitement, on the edge of the hard chair
nearest the door.
"Not there. Go and sit in the arm-chair by the fire-place.
Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Oh!" gasped Huldah, almost too delighted to be able to find words to
answer with. There was more pleasure, though, in her tone than any
number of words could have conveyed.
"The kettle is on the boil. I was just going to have a cup myself,
before I went to bed."
"Oh, thank you, ma'am!" gasped Huldah, feebly, but again with a world
of gratitude in her tone.
"Put down your load for a time, then, and rest your arms." Then, as
her eyes fell on the baskets the child had been carrying, "Was it one
of those you offered me for a bit of bread?"
"Yes, ma'am," answered Huldah, shyly.
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