Carey seldom ate more than bread and butter, with a
little stewed fruit to follow, but the Vicar had a
slice of cold meat. Immediately after supper
Mrs. Carey rang the bell for prayers, and then Philip
went to bed. He rebelled against being undressed
by Mary Ann and after a while succeeded in establishing
his right to dress and undress himself. At nine
o’clock Mary Ann brought in the eggs and the
plate. Mrs. Carey wrote the date on each egg
and put the number down in a book. She then took
the plate-basket on her arm and went upstairs.
Mr.
Carey continued to read one of his old books,
but as the clock struck ten he got up, put out the
lamps, and followed his wife to bed.
When Philip arrived there was some difficulty in deciding
on which evening he should have his bath. It
was never easy to get plenty of hot water, since the
kitchen boiler did not work, and it was impossible
for two persons to have a bath on the same day.
The only man who had a bathroom in Blackstable was
Mr. Wilson, and it was thought ostentatious of him.
Mary Ann had her bath in the kitchen on Monday night,
because she liked to begin the week clean. Uncle
William could not have his on Saturday, because he
had a heavy day before him and he was always a little
tired after a bath, so he had it on Friday. Mrs.
Carey had hers on Thursday for the same reason.
It looked as though Saturday were naturally indicated
for Philip, but Mary Ann said she couldn’t keep
the fire up on Saturday night: what with all
the cooking on Sunday, having to make pastry and she
didn’t know what all, she did not feel up to
giving the boy his bath on Saturday night; and it
was quite clear that he could not bath himself.
Mrs. Carey was shy about bathing a boy, and of course
the Vicar had his sermon. But the Vicar insisted
that Philip should be clean and sweet for the lord’s
Day. Mary Ann said she would rather go than be
put upon—and after eighteen years she didn’t
expect to have more work given her, and they might
show some consideration—and Philip said
he didn’t want anyone to bath him, but could
very well bath himself. This settled it.
Mary Ann said she was quite sure he wouldn’t
bath himself properly, and rather than he should go
dirty—and not because he was going into
the presence of the Lord, but because she couldn’t
abide a boy who wasn’t properly washed—she’d
work herself to the bone even if it was Saturday night.
Sunday was a day crowded with incident. Mr. Carey
was accustomed to say that he was the only man in
his parish who worked seven days a week.
