On this expression of good-will the conversation ceased for the time being, and the clicking of needles and the buzzing of flies about the brown-paper patterns were all that was heard until twelve o'clock, when Mrs. Ede burst into the room. 'I knew what it would be,' she said, shutting the door after her. 'What is it?' said Kate, looking up frightened. 'Well, I offered to do him a chop or some fried eggs, but he says he must have an omelette. Did you ever hear of such a thing? I told him I didn't know how to make one, but he said that I was to ask you if you could spare the time.' 'I'll make him an omelette,' said Kate, rising. 'Have you got the eggs?' 'Yes. The trouble that man gives us! What with his bath in the morning, and two pairs of boots to be cleaned, and the clothes that have to be brushed, I've done nothing but attend to him since ten o'clock; and what hours to keep!--it is now past eleven.' 'What's the use of grumbling? You know the work must be done, and I can't be in two places at once. You promised me you wouldn't say anything more about it, but would attend to him just the same as any other lodger.' 'I can't do more than I'm doing; I haven't done anything all the morning but run upstairs,' said Mrs. Ede very crossly; 'and I wish you'd take the little girls out of the kitchen; I can't look after them, and they do nothing but look out of the window.' 'Very well, I'll have them up here; they can sit on the sofa. We can manage with them now that we've finished the cutting out.' Hender made no reply to this speech, which was addressed to her. She hated having the little girls up in the workroom, and Kate knew it. Kate did not take long to make Mr. Lennox's omelette. There was a bright fire in the kitchen, the muffins were toasted, and the tea was made. 'This is a very small breakfast,' she said as she put the plates and dishes on the tray. 'Didn't he order anything else?' 'He spoke about some fried bacon, but I'll attend to that; you take the other things up to him.' As Kate passed with the tray in her hand she reproved the little girls for their idleness and told them to come upstairs, but it was not until she motioned them into the workroom that she realized that she was going into Mr. Lennox's room. After a slight pause she turned the handle of the door and entered. Mr. Lennox was lying very negligently in the armchair, wrapped in his dressing-gown. 'Oh, I beg your pardon, sir; I didn't know--' she said, starting back. Then, blushing for shame at her own silliness in taking notice of such things, she laid the breakfast things on the table. Mr. Lennox thanked her, and without seeming to notice her discomfiture he wrapped himself up more closely, drew his chair forward, and, smacking his lips, took the cover off the dish. 'Oh, very nice indeed,' he said, 'but I'm afraid I've given you a great deal of trouble; the old lady said you were very, very busy.' 'I've to finish a dress to-day, sir, and my assistant--'