Mrs.Meyer meanwhile was in the kitchen outside making the coffee and the toast.

She would not hear of the servants helping her; such a sweet pretty daughter deserved that her mother should take a little trouble on her account.
Fanny and her mother were alone over their coffee.

Fanny had wished her mother good morning and kissed her hand, whereupon Mrs.Meyer gave her back tit for tat by kissing her hand also.
"Oh, what a pretty hand, what an elegant hand! Oh, my darling, my only girl! Ah, how blessed I am in living so near to you! Permit me to give you your coffee.

I know exactly how you like it, don't I ?--a little sugar and lots of milk, that's it, isn't it?
I have forgotten nothing, you see." The woman was quite loquacious.

Whenever Teresa was present she hardly ventured to address the girl at all.