As yet they had made no definite plans for their future.  Dexie wished to see the household matters settled in a more satisfactory state before attempting anything that would benefit her own condition.

When the lawyer had explained to her mother the business 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, waiting for you to iron.”

“Waiting for me to iron, indeed!  Why didn’t you do them when you ironed the rest of the clothes?” her temper rising at the bare suggestion that she should do them herself.