sed into silence while her mother rambled on in her
characteristic way, making singularly inapt efforts to assist in the
task before them.

As Holcroft rose from milking a cow he found Jane beside him. A ghost
could not have come more silently, and again her stealthy ways gave him
an unpleasant sensation. "Kettle is boilin'," she said, and was gone.

He shook his head and muttered, "Queer tribe, these Mumpsons! I've
only to get an odd fish of a girl to help, and I'll have something like
a menagerie in the house." He carried his pails of foaming milk to the
dairy, and then entered the kitchen.

"I've only a minute," he began hastily, seeking to forestall the widow.
"Yes, the kettle's boiling all right. First scald out the
coffeepot--put three-quarters of a cup of ground coffee into the pot,
break an egg into it, so; pour on the egg and coffee half a cup of cold
water and stir it all up well, this way. Next pour in about a pint of
boiling water from the kettle, set the pot on the stove and let it--the
coffee, I mean--cook twenty minutes, remember, not less than twenty
minutes. I'll be back to breakfast by that time. Now you know just
how I want my coffee, don't you?" looking at Jane.

Jane nodded, but Mrs. Mumpson began, "Oh certainly, certainly! Boil an
egg twenty minutes, add half a cup of cold water, and--"

"I know," interrupted Jane, "I can always do as you did."

Holcroft again escaped to the barn, and eventually returned with a deep
sigh. "I'll have to face a good deal of her music this morning," he
thought, "but I shall have at least a good cup of coffee to brace me."

Mrs. Mumpson did not abandon the suggestion that grace should be
said,--she never abandoned anything,--but the farmer, in accordance
with his purpose to be civil, yet pay no attention to her obtrusive
ways, gave no heed to her hint. He thought Jane looked apprehensive,
and soon learned the reason. His coffee was at least hot, but seemed
exceedingly weak.

"I hope now that it's just right," said Mrs. Mumpson complacently, "and
feeling sure that it was made just to suit you, I filled the coffeepot
full from the kettle. We can drink what we desire for breakfast and
then the rest can be set aside until dinner time and warmed over. Then
you'll have it just to suit you for the next meal, and we, at the same
time, will be practicing econermy. It shall now be my great aim to
help you econermize. Any coarse, menial hands can work, but t