He did not ask from curiosity, that was the last thing he would have
been guilty of; he only wanted to show an interest and to hear her
talk.

"We don't have nuffin', 'cepts when father has got work, then father
has a bloater. Me and mother have one too, sometimes, then.
But when father is out of work we only has bread."

Patience turned pale, and Thomas groaned. Jessie looked up with
quick sympathy. "Have you hurted your toof, granp?" she asked
gravely, little dreaming that it was she herself who had given him
pain.

"No, my dear, granp's all right. Try and make a good breakfast now.
You've got to get as plump and round as the kitten over there."

Patience had laid down her knife and fork, and sat staring before her
with miserably troubled eyes. "It seems wrong to be eating, when--
when there's others--one's own, too--going hungry!"

"Nonsense now," said Thomas gruffly; "don't 'ee talk like that,
mother, it's foolish. We've got to think of ourselves and those
about us, and it's our duty to eat and drink and be sensible, whether
we likes it or not." He spoke gruffly, because he felt that if he
spoke in any other way, he or Patience would break down.

Jessie came to their help, though. "My rose is nearly out, granp,"
she announced proudly, as soon as she was able to lift her thoughts
from the wonderful experience of having an egg _and_ bacon for
breakfast. "I saw it all showing pink. I expect by the time we've