This had been, of course, my maids' doing, but the fuel was a delicate little attention on Pepper's part.

How he blushed and grinned with delight when I thanked him before all his mates! This was indeed station-life made easy! It did not take two minutes to light my fire, and in five more I had a delicious cup of tea and some bread-and-butter all ready for F----.

It was nearly cold, however, by the time I could catch him and make him drink it.

Of course, being a man, instead of saying, "Thank you," or anything of that sort, he merely remarked, "What nonsense!" but equally of course, he was very glad to get it, and ate and drank it all up, returning instantly to his shed.
After this little episode, I set to work to unpack a little, and make the sitting-room look the least bit more home-like; then I laid the cloth for breakfast, put out the pie and potted meat, etc.

(no words can say how heartily tired of pies we both were before the week was over), and arranged everything for breakfast.