siness matters which she
had refused to discuss during her husband's lifetime, then it would be time
enough to lay her own plans before her.

The appearance of the couple whom Mr. Hackett had secured to assist in the
house and garden was daily expected, and Dexie looked forward to more
freedom on their arrival.

One day, as Gussie answered the summons to dinner, she surveyed the table
scornfully.

"Is this all that you have for dinner? This is the third day, Dexie, that
you have given us no meat. _You_ may like a vegetable diet, but I am sure
no one else in the house does. We might as well dine at the poorhouse."

"Well, Gussie, you know it is not my fault," Dexie said, sinking into a
chair with a tired sigh. "I cannot make things out of nothing, and my
housekeeping money has come to an end. If you had not insisted on those
extra dresses for yourself, the money would have lasted until Mr. Hackett
arrived. I am sure he was not aware how little ready money there was on
hand or he would have arranged for the expenses that were necessary. It is
no use to fret, Gussie; there is plenty in the house to keep us for weeks
yet, if we live plainly. It is a shame to worry and find fault because you
have not everything you want when we have such a comfortable home left to
us."

"But we can't eat the house or the furniture in it," Gussie snappishly
replied, "and I am just tired and sick of the things you have given us to
eat lately. I haven't the least appetite for your 'plain dishes' that you
spend so much time over."

"Very well, Gussie, if you can prepare something better out of what there
is to cook, I wish you would do it. I do not prepare your meals from
choice. I have work of my own to do, and would prefer to keep out of the
kitchen altogether, if it were possible."

"Well, I guess you'll be pretty hungry before _I'll_ go in the kitchen to
cook!" said Gussie, with uplifted nose. "I have no intention of messing
myself up for other people."

"You do not need to 'mess yourself up.' I don't; and you may have to do
more disagreeable things than that yet. I am going away for a rest as soon
as the woman comes and gets used to the house, and she will not be able to
see after everything without some help. Those starched clothes that you put
into the wash every week with so little thought of the extra work they
make--she will not be able to do them, if she has to see about everything
else. There is a whole basketful there now,