"Maria," she said, "and cook, is there anything nice and tasty for tea
this evening?"

"Nice and tasty, miss!" said cook. "And what should there be nice and
tasty? There's bread, and there's butter--Dorset, second-class
Dorset--and there's jam (if there's any left); and that's about all."

"That sort of tea isn't very nourishing, cook, is it? I ask because I
want to know," said Kathleen.

"It's the kind we always have at Myrtle Lodge," replied cook. "I don't
hold with it, but then it's the way of the missis."

"I have got some money in my pocket," said Kathleen. "I want to have a
beautiful, nice tea. Can't you think of something to buy? Here's five
shillings. Would that get her a nice tea?"

"A nice tea!" cried Maria. "It would get a beautiful meal; and the poor
missis, she would like it."

"Then go out, Maria; do, like a darling. I will open the door for you if
anybody calls. Do run round the corner and bring in--Oh! I know what.
We'll have sausages--they are delicious--and a little tin of
sardines--won't they be good?--and some water-cress, and some
shrimps--oh, yes, shrimps! Be quick! And we will put out the best
tea-things, and a clean cloth; and it will rest the poor tired one so
tremendously when she comes in and sees a good meal on the table."

Both cook and Maria were quite excited. Perhaps they had an eye to the
reversion of the tea, the sausages, the sardines, the shrimps, and the