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airthatheshouldstayawaysolongsawveryclearlythatnocookcouldhelpthem.Whatistheuseofacookinahousewherethereisnothingtocook?IfonlyFritzingwouldcomebackquicklywithagreatmanyloavesofbread!Thedoorwasopenedalittlewayandsomebody'sknucklesknocked.ShethoughtitwasTussie,quickandcleverasever,andinavoicefullofwelcometoldhimtocomeinuponwhichinsteppedRobinMorrisonverybriskly,delightedbythewarmthoftheinvitation."Whynowthisisnice,"saidRobin,allsmiles. Priscilladidnotmoveanddidnotoffertoshakehands,sohestoodonthehearthrugandspreadouthisowntotheblaze,lookingdownatherwithbright,audaciouseyes.Hethoughthehadnotyetseenhersobeautiful.Therewasanextraordinarydepthandmysteryinherlook,hethought,asitrestedforamomentonhisface,andshehadneveryetdroppedhereyelashesasshenowdidwhenhereyesmethis.Weknowshewasveryhungry,andtherewasnostrengthinheratall.Notonlydidhereyelashesdrop,butherheadaswell,andherhandshunghelplessly,likedroopingwhiteflowers,oneovereacharmofthechair. "IcameintoaskMr.Neumann-Schultzifthere'sanythingIcandoforyou,"saidRobin. "Didyou?Helivesnextdoor." "Iknow.Iknockedtherefirst,buthedidn'tanswersoIthoughthemustbehere." Priscillasaidnothing.AtanyothertimeshewouldhavesnubbedRobinandgotridofhim.Nowshemerelysatanddrooped. "Hashegoneout?" "Yes." Hervoicewasverylow,hardlymorethanawhisper.Thosewhoknowthefaintnessofhungeratthisstagewillalsoknowthepathosthatstealsintothevoiceofthesuffererwhenheisunwillinglymadetospeakitbecomesplaintive,melodiouswithyearning,theyearningforfood.Butifyoudonotknowthis,ifyouhaveyourselfjustcomefromdinner,ifyouarehalfinloveandwanttheotherpersontobequiteinlove,ifyouarefulloffaithinyourownfascinations,youareapttofallintoRobin'serrorandmistakethenatureoftheyearning.TussieinRobin'splacewouldhavedoubtedtheevidenceofhissenses,butthenTussiewasverymodest.Robindoubtednothing.Hesaw,heheard,andhethrilledandunderneathhisthrilling,whichwasrealenoughtomakehimflushtotherootsofhishair,fardownunderneathitwastheswiftcontemptuouscomment,"They'reallalike." Priscillashuthereyes.ShewaslisteningforthefirstsoundofTussie'sorFritzing'sfootfall,thegladsoundheraldingtheapproachofsomethingtoeat,andwishingRobinwouldgoaway.Hewaskindattimesandobliging,butonthewholeanuisance.Itwasagreatpitythereweresomanypeopleintheworldwhowerenuisancesanddidnotknowit.Somebodyoughttote