'Good evening,' said Miss Anne's voice, and as the light from the doorway
was darkened, all the party looked up quickly, and Stephen felt himself
growing hot and cold by turns. 'Your supper smells very nice, Martha;
there has been some good cooking done to-day.'
'Oh, Miss Anne,' cried Martha, colouring up with excitement and fear, 'it
is a young leveret Mrs. Jones, the gamekeeper's wife, gave me for some
knitting I'd done for her; she said it 'ud be a treat for grandfather.
I've been cooking it all evening, ma'am, and it's very toothsome. If
you'd only just taste a mouthful, it 'ud make me ever so proud.'
'Thank you, Martha,' said Miss Anne, smiling; 'I am quite hungry with
climbing the hill, and if it is as good as the bread you gave me the
other day, I shall enjoy having my supper with you.'
Stephen scarcely heard what Miss Anne said to him, while he watched
Martha bustling about to reach out a grand china plate, which was one of
the great treasures of their possessions; and he looked on silently as
she chose the daintiest morsels of the stew; but when she moved the
little table nearer to the door, and laid the plate and knife and fork
upon it, before Miss Anne, he started to his feet, unable to sit still
and see her partake of the food which he had procured in such a manner.
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