"Who'd 'ave
thought it's" from time to time and thawed into ordinary human beings
under Sam's convivial example. In the end Sam offered sincere if
oddly-expressed congratulations, and disappeared into the back kitchen
to wash his hands. Jessie, too, vanished mysteriously, eventually
returning minus the curling pins and plus a row of impossible curls
and a bright blue blouse bedecked with cheap lace. Mrs. Sartin
meanwhile tidied up by kicking the scattered toys under the sofa.

"Them sisters what looks arter the poor is always givin' broken
rubbish to the children," she exclaimed. "Not but what they mean it
kindly, but it makes a heap of muck to clear up."

Christopher nodded his head comprehendingly, by no means so hurt at
her ingratitude as a real Christopher Aston might have been.

The good woman bustled about, and eventually the family drew up round
the tea table. The cloth might have been cleaner, the cups and saucers
have borne a longer acquaintance with water, and there was a spoon
short, though no one was so ill-mannered as to allude to it. Jessie
unobtrusively shared hers with her mother under cover of the big
tea-pot. There was bread and a yellow compound politely alluded to as
butter, and a big pot of jam. The younger Sartins gorged silently on
this, all unreproved by a preoccupied mother. Mrs. Sartin, indeed,
became quite voluble and told Christopher how she was now first
dresser at the Kings Theatre and how Jessie was just taken on in the
wardrobe room.

"Which is uncertain _hours_," Mrs. Sartin explained, "but it's nice to
be together in the same 'ouse, and one couldn't want a kinder
gentleman than Mr. X. to do with. I've been there ten years and never
'ad a cross word with 'im. And 'e was that good when Marley was took,
and never turned me off as some of 'em do." She stopped suddenly under
the stress of Sam's lowering countenance. Jessie hastily passed her
bread, "which I thanks you for, but will say what I was a-goin' to,
for all Sam's kicks under the table," continued the hostess, defiantly
regarding her confused offspring.

The confusion spread to Christopher, who looked at his plate and got
red. Sam pushed back his chair; there was a very ugly scowl on his
face. His undaunted mother addressed herself to their guest.

"No woman ever 'ad a better 'usband than Marley, though I ses it, but
Sam here 's that 'ard 'e won't let me speak of my own man if 'e can
'elp 'it. 'Is own father, too. Ah, if 'e 'a