No harpy ever went to its meat with one half the zest Mrs.Holt found in the situation.

With Kate so ill she could not stand on her feet half the time, so ill she could not reply, with no spirit left to appeal to George, what more could be asked?
Mrs.Holt could add to every grievance she formerly had, that of a sick woman in the house for her to wait on.

She could even make vile insinuations to Kate, prostrate and helpless, that she would not have dared otherwise.

She could prepare food that with a touch of salt or sugar where it was not supposed to be, would have sickened a well person.

One day George came in from school and saw a bowl of broth sitting on a chair beside Kate's bed.
"Can't you drink it ?" he asked.