AT WORK IN THE KITCHEN 291 



Of course, he is going to give himself a drink of fresh, 

 hot coffee before the others are up; that's clear enough. 

 When the coffee was ready, I sat down on a camp-stool 

 that stood in a corner, and watched him. But I must say 

 he surprised me again. He pushed the coffee-kettle away 

 from the fire and took down a cup from the wall; then 

 went to a jug that stood on the bench and poured out- 

 would you believe it? a cup of cold tea! If he goes on in 

 this way, we shall have surprises enough before evening, 

 I thought to myself. Then he began to be deeply 

 interested in an enamelled iron bowl, which stood on 

 a shelf above the range. The heat, which was now 

 intense (I looked at the thermograph which hung from 

 the ceiling; it registered 84 F.), did not seem to be 

 sufficient for its mysterious contents. It was also 

 wrapped up in towels and cloths, and gave me the 

 impression of having caught a severe cold. The glances 

 he threw into it from time to time were anxious; he 

 looked at the clock, and seemed to have something 

 on his mind. Then suddenly I saw his face brighten; 

 he gave a long, not very melodious whistle, bent down, 

 seized a dust-pan, and hurried out into the pent-house. 

 Now I was really excited. What was coming next ? He 

 came back at once with a happy smile all over his face, 

 and the dust-pan full of coal! If I had been curious 

 before, I was now anxious. I withdrew as far as possible 

 from the range, sat down on the floor itself, and fixed 

 my eyes on the thermograph. As I thought, the pen 



