e letters. She was wondering if he still thought she managed
badly, and what he would do about it. She knew she had always done her
best. At last she said, wistfully, trying to speak plainly for there
seemed to be a lump in her throat: 'And what about tomorrow? Would you
like to spend the money yourself, or shall I manage as I've done
before, or will you tell me what to do?'

'I don't know, dear,' said Easton, sheepishly. 'I think you'd better
do as you think best.'

'Oh, I'll manage all right, dear, you'll see,' replied Ruth, who seemed
to think it a sort of honour to be allowed to starve herself and wear
shabby clothes.

The baby, who had been for some time quietly sitting upon his mother's
lap, looking wonderingly at the fire--his teeth appeared to trouble him
less since he got rid of the eggs and bacon and potatoes--now began to
nod and doze, which Easton perceiving, suggested that the infant should
not be allowed to go to sleep with an empty stomach, because it would
probably wake up hungry in the middle of the night. He therefore work
him up as much as possible and mashed a little of the bread and toasted
cheese with a little warm milk. Then taking the baby from Ruth he
began to try to induce it to eat. As soon, however, as the child
understood his object, it began to scream at the top of its voice,
closing its lips firmly and turning its head rapidly from side to side
every time the spoon approached its mouth. It made such a dreadful
noise that Easton at last gave in. He began to walk about the room
with it, and presently the child sobbed itself to sleep. After putting
the baby into its cradle Ruth set about preparing Easton's breakfast
and packing it into his basket. This did not take very long, there
being only bread and butter--or, to be more correct, margarine.

Then she poured what tea was left in the tea-pot into a small saucepan
and placed it on the top of the oven, but away from the fire, cut two
more slices of bread and spread on them all the margarine that was
left; then put them on a plate on the table, covering them with a
saucer to prevent them getting hard and dry during the night. Near the
plate she placed a clean cup and saucer and the milk and sugar.

In the morning Easton would light the fire and warm up the tea in the
saucepan so as to have a cup of tea before going out. If Ruth was
awake and he was not pressed for time, he generally took a cup of tea
to her in bed.

Nothing n