As Baucis had said , there was but a scanty supper for two hungry travellers . In the middle of the table was the remnant of a brown loaf , with a piece of cheese on one side of it , and a dish of honeycomb on the other . There was a pretty good bunch of grapes for each of the guests . A moderately sized earthen pitcher , nearly full of milk , stood at a corner of the board ; and when hands had filled two bowls , and set them before the strangers , only a little milk remained in the bottom of the pitcher . Alas ! it is a very sad business , when a bountiful heart finds itself pinched and squeezed among narrow circumstances . Poor Baucis kept wishing that she might starve for a week to come , if it were possible , by so doing , to provide these hungry folks a more plentiful supper . And , since the supper was so exceedingly small , she could not help wishing that their appetites had not been quite so large . Why , at their very first sitting down , the travellers both drank off all the milk in their two bowls , at a draught . `` A little more milk , kind Mother Baucis , if you please , '' said Quicksilver . `` The day has been hot , and I am very much athirst . '' `` Now , my dear people , '' answered Baucis , in great confusion , `` I am so sorry and ashamed ! But the truth is , there is hardly a drop more milk in the pitcher . O husband ! husband ! why did n't we go without our supper ? '' `` Why , it appears to me , '' cried Quicksilver , starting up from table and taking the pitcher by the handle , `` it really appears to me that matters are not quite so bad as you represent them . Here is certainly more milk in the pitcher . '' So saying , and to the vast astonishment of Baucis , he proceeded to fill , not only his own bowl , but his companion 's likewise , from the pitcher , that was supposed to be almost empty . The good woman could scarcely believe her eyes .
She had certainly poured out nearly all the milk , and had peeped in afterwards , and seen the bottom XXXXX the pitcher , as she set it down upon the table .
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