Left alone with the fairy, Willie Willders began his duties as
sick-nurse, a sphere of action into which he had never thought of being
introduced, even in his wildest dreams.
He began by asking the fairy if she was all right and comfortable, to
which she replied that she was not; upon which he explained that he
meant, was she as right and comfortable as could be expected in the
circumstances; could he do anything for her, in fact, or get her
anything that would make her more comfortable than she was--but the
fairy shook her poor head and said, "No."
"Come now, won't you have somethin' to eat? What had you for dinner?"
said Willie, in a cheery voice, looking round the room, but not
discovering any symptoms of food beyond a few empty plates and cups (the
latter without handles), and a tea-pot with half a spout.
"I had a little bread and butter," said the fairy.
"No tipple?" inquired the nurse.
"No, except water."
"Ain't there none in the house?"
"No."
"D'ye git nothin' better at other times?" inquired Willie in surprise.
"Not often. Father is very poor. He was ill for a long time, too, and
if it hadn't been for your kind master I think we should all have
starved. He's better now, but he needs pretty good living to keep him
up to his work--for there's a deal of training to be done, and it wears
him out if he don't get meat. But the pantomimes began and we were
getting on better, when the fire came and burnt everything we had
almost, so we can't afford much meat or beer, and I don't like beer, so
I've got them persuaded to let me live on bread and butter and water. I
would like tea better, because it's hot, but we can't afford that."
Here was a revelation! The fairy lived upon bread and butter and water!
Willie thought that, but for the interpolation of the butter, it would
have borne marvellous resemblance to prison fare.
"When had you dinner?" inquired Willie suddenly.
"I think about four o'clock."
"An' can't you eat nothin' now?"
Again the fairy shook her head.
"Nor drink?"
"Look if there's anything in the tea-pot," said the fairy.