have not asked her," he said very quietly, "suppose we go
in now and see about it, if you are rested."

So we went in, but Hester was not in the kitchen, and when I
went up to her room and knocked there was no answer, so I
supposed she had gone out for the roots and herbs she used
to hunt so much.

"You will have to get it yourself," I told him, "unless
Caliban will."

"Are you not willing to do that much for me, then?" he said,
and I felt very strange, though I could not explain why. I
think now it was because I began to understand that I ought
to have done something I had not.

"I would get it for you if I could," I said, "but _I_ do not
know how to make a breakfast, nor where Hester keeps her
things. Why do you not ask Caliban?"

So then he asked Caliban if he could manage some breakfast
for him, but Caliban only stared and walked away.

"Does he understand?" Roger asked me, and I felt that his
voice was not the same as it had been.

"I am sure he does," I said. "Will you not do as this man
asks you, Caliban?" But he only scowled and turned away.

"You see," I said, "there is nothing to be done until Hester
comes." But Roger shook his head and walked over to Caliban.

I am sure he knew it was not that I grudged him food, but
that I had no idea at all of how to set about getting it
ready. People always have known that what I say is truth,
though much of what I say seems to surprise them.

"If you will excuse me," he said, "I will try a slightly
different method," and I knew he was very angry. He lifted
Caliban in the air by the collar of his coat and gave him
several sharp blows on each ear and shook him. Then he threw
him away on the floor. Caliban cried like a young dog and
sat upon his knees and covered his face. He meant for Roger
to excuse him. I was surprised, for I had always been a
little afraid of Caliban.

"Get up," said Roger, very quietly, "and make me some coffee
and whatever else you have. And see that you obey me in
future."

Caliban hurried about and looked here and there and made
some coffee and broke eggs in a black pan and cut pieces of
bacon. He set a place at the kitchen table and made some
biscuits warm in the oven. Roger ate five eggs and a great
many pieces of bacon and