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The novel was quite neglected of late, yet not abandoned. Kate had contributed nothing towards it since the "magnificent affair of Syke's wedding," being now very much occupied during her leisure moments with a newly married couple, both of whom were ignorant of the first duties of house-keeping. Though an inexcusable fault in her eyes, "not knowin'," she said, "what any woman could be thinkin' of to bring up a girl in that way," her usual kindness of heart prompted her to render them every assistance in her power. She had once lived in the family of the bride's mother, and thus was on familiar terms, indulging in as much raillery as she pleased without giving offence, which was just' what suited her. If she thought it showed a lack of common sense to put beans in the oven to bake without boiling, or to pour hot water on glass ware, she did not hesitate to say so, to which her pupil always assented. She could not afford to do otherwise, for Kate's assistance was of great service to her, being at some distance from her mother, and finding her domestic duties of a much more complicated nature than she anticipated, so as to be occasionally discouraged.