'I think you'd better do as you think best.' 'Oh, I'll manage all right, dear, you'll see,' replied Ruth, who seemed to think it a sort of honour to be allowed to starve herself and wear shabby clothes.
The baby, who had been for some time quietly sitting upon his mother's lap, looking wonderingly at the fire--his teeth appeared to trouble him less since he got rid of the eggs and bacon and potatoes--now began to nod and doze, which Easton perceiving, suggested that the infant should not be allowed to go to sleep with an empty stomach, because it would probably wake up hungry in the middle of the night.

He therefore work him up as much as possible and mashed a little of the bread and toasted cheese with a little warm milk.

Then taking the baby from Ruth he began to try to induce it to eat.

As soon, however, as the child understood his object, it began to scream at the top of its voice, closing its lips firmly and turning its head rapidly from side to side every time the spoon approached its mouth.

It made such a dreadful noise that Easton at last gave in.