Page:Mashi and Other Stories.djvu/18

10 at least two or three o'clock. My midnight, you know, begins at sundown. But why did you want me to sleep, then?"

"Why, you know how late last night you kept awake talking; so today you must get to sleep early."

"Is Mani asleep?"

"Oh, no, she's busy making some soup for you."

"You don't mean to say so, Mashi? Does she?"

"Certainly! Why, she prepares all your food, the busy little woman."

"I thought perhaps Mani could not"

"It doesn't take long for a woman to learn such things. With the need it comes of itself."

"The fish soup, that I had in the morning, had such a delicate flavour, I thought you had made it."

"Dear me, no! Surely you don't think Mani would let me do anything for you? Why, she does all your washing herself. She knows you can't bear anything dirty about you. If only you could see your sitting-room, how spick and span she keeps it! If I were to let her haunt your sick-room, she would wear herself out. But that's what she really wants to do."