The girl was not uniformed like many of the maids in town. Her blue cotton dress was short like that of a child. Only her apron suggested that she was a maid, for it was the type that maids in towns often wore.

"You can reheat dinner for me, Jenny. I'll be in in a moment. I assume Mrs. Carpenter and Mrs. Appleton have taken their supper already?"

"Aye ser, though Mrs. Appleton still won't eat much."

"Take some up later and see if she wants more. For now, that's good, for Nat hasn't had his supper either. Please take him to the kitchen and see to it that he has sum't to eat."

"Aye ser." And Jenny looked at Nat. "This way please." And if he followed, she led him through a scullery into a kitchen. The walls were whitewashed, though some stains suggested it could do with some care. The wooden floor was well scrubbed though. There was a table and benches in the middle of the room. "Sit down. I'll heat he sum't." said the girl.