He is worth the whole bunch of 'em tied in a knot; a
gentleman inside and out, and his hand in his pocket ivery time you
served him. Ain't that somebody a-callin' ye down the back stairs?"
"Let 'em call," said Myrtella, to whom these comparisons of past
places were replete with interest. "It's just Miss Hattie; if she's
got anything worth sayin', she can come down and say it."
It was evidently worth saying, for a moment later, a thin, sharp-
featured girl of fourteen thrust her head in at the door.
"Myrtella, I told you I wanted that white dress fixed. I am going to
wear it this afternoon."
"It's too early to wear summer clothes," Myrtella announced,
continuing her ironing. "I never sewed the buttons on a purpose, so 's
you couldn't wear it."
"Well I _will_ wear it! I am going right straight up stairs and pin it
on."
As the door slammed, Myrtella turned a beaming face on Norah:
"It ain't hemmed!" she said with satisfaction.
Norah shrugged her shoulders:
"It would be a cold day that'd see anybody makin' me do the cookin'
and nursin', and sewin' for a family of four, for five dollars a
week!"
Myrtella glared at her across the ironing board:
"Who said anybody was makin' me? I'm paid to do the cookin' and
housework in this house, and if I see fit to light in and boss things
'round a bit, it's my own business.
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