– No, Chris, thank you. I'm not tired at all," Catherine replied muffled. – I'll do all the cooking myself, and you'd better go and get some water for the vegetable garden. We're not going into the field today. When Cassie wakes up, tell her her father's gone.
– Whatever you say," Christine replied briefly.
She dressed, put on her shoes, took the bucket and went to the river. Christine realised clearly the weight that had fallen on Catherine's shoulders – the loss of her father was a burden more for her than for Christine herself, and even more so for Cassie.
"Poor Catherine, she is so lost! I must help her. I must go to town and get a job!" – Christine thought, slowly heading towards the river: she was overwhelmed with the desire to help Catherine, to support her, not only morally, but also with money.
Catherine sat at the crucifix and thought about that from now on her sisters' welfare depended only on her – she was the head of the family, and the responsibility for her sisters and their lives rested solely on her.
"I'll do anything to keep them from suffering, just give me strength, Lord!" – she thought, and then rose and, with a heavy heart, went to prepare breakfast. Looking at the sleeping Cassie, Kate smiled softly. – 'My sweet girl, I will never leave you. No one and nothing will separate us!" – Kate thought determinedly and stroked Cassie's hair.
When Cassie woke up, Christine was already back from the river and breakfast was ready.
– Wash your face, and sit down to eat," Kate said to her younger sister, as she poured the porridge into bowls: the portions were larger than usual, for Kate had used the same measure of grain she had used earlier, which was for four people.
Cassie washed and dressed, sat down at the table and began to eat.
– Where's Daddy? – she asked, only now noticing that they were eating breakfast without her father.
The older sisters looked at each other.
– Father said he wouldn't have breakfast," Kate answered her, trying to be as convincing as possible.
– Why? Had he already eaten? – Cassie asked innocently, dipping her wooden spoon into the porridge.
– Yes, he ate early," Christine said, agreeing with Cassie's levity.
– Where is he? – Cassie asked again.
– He has important things to do. You remember he's very concerned about the church and the village, don't you? – Catherine answered her. – He must have gone to that beautiful Rivershold estate.