Part 14 (1/2)

Mother Meg Catharine Shaw 26330K 2022-07-22

She did the same with the other half of the dough, then plunged the knife several times to the bottom of the tin, cut it across the top, and put it back on the fender.

”Now, Mrs. Blunt,” said Meg, ”I judge by my oven whether to leave it there for a quarter of an hour, or whether to put it into the _bottom_ shelf of the oven. If the bottom is not too hot, that's the best place.

Yes, mine is just right; feel what a different heat it is from the top.”

”Why do you do that?” asked Mrs. Blunt.

”Because if I put it into the hot part at once it would set the crust of the loaf before it had time to rise, and then the rest would be heavy. I leave it in the bottom just so long as will allow it to begin to rise, about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, and then put it into the top, and my baking begins. You had better wait to see that before you go down again.”

”I made some porridge, Mrs. Seymour; and what's more they've eat it, and said it's as good as yours.”

”Oh, I _am_ glad!” said Meg, heartily. ”When they get used to it, you see if they don't say it's _better_ than mine.”

Mrs. Blunt laughed at that, but she knew enough of children by this time to guess that Meg was right.

When she was gone down to wash her dishes, Meg sat down on her low chair with the baby, and drew little Pattie to her knee to hear a story. She told them about the Good Shepherd who loves little lambs, and how He gave His life to save the little lambs from being lost.

Pattie's eyes were very wide open, and she listened as long as there was any ”story” in Meg's words. Then when she began to grow fidgety Meg got her to learn the one word ”Jesus,” and after that she sang to them till their mother came back.

”Now I'm going to fetch my mother-in-law,” said Meg; ”she's coming to have a cup of early tea with us, while the bread is baking. I do not look at it yet, because I want the oven to keep hot, and I know it will not burn yet.”

”If the baker bakes my bread for me, I shall be saved all that,” said Mrs. Blunt.

”Yes, so you will; and as your loaves will be large it would be a great help, because a baker's oven is such a nice even heat. Still it is nice to know how to do it.”

”Oh yes,” said Mrs. Blunt. ”I did not mean that.”

Meg went upstairs.

”Come, mother,” she said, ”Mrs. Blunt's there, and I'm going to make the tea. It's early to be sure, but you won't mind.”

”I must finish these couple of s.h.i.+rts, my dear.”

”Then I'll do that,” said Meg, ”while you make up your fire. I couldn't venture to do _that_ for you, mother; I shouldn't do it right.”

Meg laughed as she said that, and Mrs. Seymour laughed too.

Miss Hobson from the inner room called out cheerily: ”Well, it's the only thing as she thinks you can't do to her mind anyway.”

”Young folks can't have the experience of us old ones,” said Mrs.

Seymour. ”We can't expect it.”

Meg finished the s.h.i.+rts, and then went into the back room to say, ”How d'ye do” to her mother-in-law's lodger, while Mrs. Seymour took off her ironing ap.r.o.n, settled her cap aright, and went downstairs.

”I shall bring you a cup of our tea presently,” said Meg, ”and a bit of bread and b.u.t.ter, so don't settle to sleep yet, Miss Hobson.”

”Very well, my dear, I'm glad you told me. Are you going to have a party?”

Meg smiled. ”Miss Hobson, I've got a pot of suns.h.i.+ne that won't hold it all, so I'm going to give a little away.”