direction, muttered an embarrassed greeting and, placing their caps beneath their chairs, sat down and studied the table in silence.
It was Obvious that her preparations had created a profound impression, although whether it was a flattering one or not it was difficult to judge. The two older men, one stout and solemn, the other thin and wiry, sedulously avoided her gaze. However, the young boy with the tow-coloured hair whom she had seen herding the cattle seemed to have difficulty in restraining his mirth and after a series of suppressed explosions of hilarity came from his direction the stout man said sharply, ‘That’s enough, Joe, no doubt the young lady will get into our ways all in good time.’
In spite of the magnanimity of this speech, Kate got the strong impression that her efforts were not entirely to their satisfaction. She tackled it with her usual directness. ‘Have I done something wrong?’ she asked anxiously as she poured tea. ‘Do please tell me, as I’m new here.’
An embarrassed silence followed her request. The stout man slowly stirred his tea and with a self-conscious cough said, ‘Well, it’s this way, miss, Mrs. Murphy doesn’t go in for the small fancy glass dishes of jam. Why, Dan here,’ he pointed to his companion, ‘would knock back the whole shebang, fancy dishes and all, and not notice it.’
A guffaw of laughter from h i s companions greeted this sally. At the sound, Bedsocks woke up with a start and after one terrified glance at the unaccustomed gathering of males, gave a squeak of fright and disappeared beneath the dresser. Her antics were a further cause for mirth and soon the kitchen was resounding to their peals of laughter.
Happily Kate served the eggs and replenished the dishes as quickly as they were emptied. Now that the ice had been broken so satisfactorily they pointed out to her that the red and white tablecloth was usually reserved for Sunday’s use and that Mrs. Murphy had never been known to garnish the table with floral decorations, although they conceded both the contributions an improvement.
Owen entered the kitchen to the sound of chatter interspersed with the sound of laughter. For a moment he stood unnoticed in the doorway, watching Kate as she busily replenished cups, her face flushed and happy, eagerly listening to young Joe as he promised shyly that on the following day he would show her the first calf of the season.
'Take no heed of anything young Joe says, miss,’ the stout man bellowed jovially, ‘he’s taken a fancy to you and would think nothing of stealing a kiss in the cowshed if he got half a chance, the young rascal.’
Kate blushed hotly and turning away pretended to busy herself at the range.
‘That’s enough, Mike,’ Owen said sharply. ‘The young lady isn’t used to your form of humour.’
Immediately Mike sobered and applied himself to removing the top of another egg. But although the men soon broke into desultory conversation Kate noticed that their employer’s presence had an inhibiting affect and that they finished their meal quickly and, solemnly retrieving their caps from under their chairs, disappeared one by one.
Hands in pockets, Owen watched Kate as she cleared up, washed and dried the dishes and replaced them on their ends on the open dresser. This was evidently Mrs. Murphy’s method and she didn’t wish to appear to be usurping her predecessor’s position.
Thoughtfully Owen filled and lit his pipe. ‘Well, you seem to have gone down pretty well with the men; frankly I was a little worried as to how they’d take you. It would have made things extremely unpleasant if you had proved unpopular with them.’
Grudging as his words were, Kate felt a little glow of satisfaction and achievement. ‘Oh, but they were so nice and good-humoured,’ she said disclaimingly, ‘especially the stout man.’
‘ You shouldn’t take people on their face value,’ he said dryly. ‘Actually Dan, who looks like a male Mrs.
It was Obvious that her preparations had created a profound impression, although whether it was a flattering one or not it was difficult to judge. The two older men, one stout and solemn, the other thin and wiry, sedulously avoided her gaze. However, the young boy with the tow-coloured hair whom she had seen herding the cattle seemed to have difficulty in restraining his mirth and after a series of suppressed explosions of hilarity came from his direction the stout man said sharply, ‘That’s enough, Joe, no doubt the young lady will get into our ways all in good time.’
In spite of the magnanimity of this speech, Kate got the strong impression that her efforts were not entirely to their satisfaction. She tackled it with her usual directness. ‘Have I done something wrong?’ she asked anxiously as she poured tea. ‘Do please tell me, as I’m new here.’
An embarrassed silence followed her request. The stout man slowly stirred his tea and with a self-conscious cough said, ‘Well, it’s this way, miss, Mrs. Murphy doesn’t go in for the small fancy glass dishes of jam. Why, Dan here,’ he pointed to his companion, ‘would knock back the whole shebang, fancy dishes and all, and not notice it.’
A guffaw of laughter from h i s companions greeted this sally. At the sound, Bedsocks woke up with a start and after one terrified glance at the unaccustomed gathering of males, gave a squeak of fright and disappeared beneath the dresser. Her antics were a further cause for mirth and soon the kitchen was resounding to their peals of laughter.
Happily Kate served the eggs and replenished the dishes as quickly as they were emptied. Now that the ice had been broken so satisfactorily they pointed out to her that the red and white tablecloth was usually reserved for Sunday’s use and that Mrs. Murphy had never been known to garnish the table with floral decorations, although they conceded both the contributions an improvement.
Owen entered the kitchen to the sound of chatter interspersed with the sound of laughter. For a moment he stood unnoticed in the doorway, watching Kate as she busily replenished cups, her face flushed and happy, eagerly listening to young Joe as he promised shyly that on the following day he would show her the first calf of the season.
'Take no heed of anything young Joe says, miss,’ the stout man bellowed jovially, ‘he’s taken a fancy to you and would think nothing of stealing a kiss in the cowshed if he got half a chance, the young rascal.’
Kate blushed hotly and turning away pretended to busy herself at the range.
‘That’s enough, Mike,’ Owen said sharply. ‘The young lady isn’t used to your form of humour.’
Immediately Mike sobered and applied himself to removing the top of another egg. But although the men soon broke into desultory conversation Kate noticed that their employer’s presence had an inhibiting affect and that they finished their meal quickly and, solemnly retrieving their caps from under their chairs, disappeared one by one.
Hands in pockets, Owen watched Kate as she cleared up, washed and dried the dishes and replaced them on their ends on the open dresser. This was evidently Mrs. Murphy’s method and she didn’t wish to appear to be usurping her predecessor’s position.
Thoughtfully Owen filled and lit his pipe. ‘Well, you seem to have gone down pretty well with the men; frankly I was a little worried as to how they’d take you. It would have made things extremely unpleasant if you had proved unpopular with them.’
Grudging as his words were, Kate felt a little glow of satisfaction and achievement. ‘Oh, but they were so nice and good-humoured,’ she said disclaimingly, ‘especially the stout man.’
‘ You shouldn’t take people on their face value,’ he said dryly. ‘Actually Dan, who looks like a male Mrs.
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