“Haf you not ze grand need of a cook?”
“Certainly.”
“Zen if I take l’avantage de votre need to obtain le bon prix for ze work zat ees very good wizout ze reputation, I only follow ze well known business principle: one zat Monsieur Mason take l’avantage of every day.”
“Lizzette, you are too much for me. Where is your paragon?”
“Here. C’est Elsie.”
“What, that young girl? You astonish me. She cannot be capable; besides, I thought you considered her a lady.”
“Bah! Ze work ees not ze lady any more zan your robe de soie ees ze lady. Ven I say ‘lady’ I mean ze instinct, ze character, ze soul, ze nature. She cannot harm zat by working dans le cuisine. My word for it, you will nevair find Elsie Murchison ze trespasser of her place, if so be it ees in your kitchen or in your salon.”
“Small likelihood of the latter! Go on, Lizzette—you are really eloquent.”
“Mais, I feel ze indignation at ze misapprehension of your world ofer ze name of lady. In my leetle world eet means somesing besides ze airs and ze graces et l’argent.”
“Your world and mine won’t quarrel over it much, I fancy,” said Mrs. Mason composedly. “It seems to me you’ve grown into a fierce little radical since you compounded such delectable dishes in mamma’s kitchen; but as to the capability of that young thing, I doubt it much.”