"Of course I mean the parlor clock. Did you wind it?"
"O no, no, no, I would as soon think of touching gold or silver. But the young lady did, I'm sure, ma'am, for I heard it strike when she was setting of it."
Ah! If my nature had not been an undemonstrative one, and if I had not been bred to a strong sense of social distinctions, I might have betrayed my satisfaction at this announcement in a way that would have made this homely German woman start. As it was I sat stock-still, and even made her think I had not heard her. Venturing to rouse me a bit, she spoke again after a minute's silence.
"She might have been lonely, you know, ma'am; and the ticking of a clock is such company."
"Yes," I answered with more than my accustomed vivacity, for she jumped as if I had struck her. "You have hit the nail on the head, Mrs. Boppert, and are a much smarter woman than I thought. But when did she wind the clock?"
"At five o'clock, ma'am; just before I left the house."
"O, and did she know you were going?"
"I think so, ma'am, for I called up, just before I put on my bonnet, that it was five o'clock and that I was going."
"O, you did. And did she answer back?"
"Yes, ma'am. I heard her step in the hall and then her voice. She asked if I was sure it was five, and I told her yes, because I had set the kitchen clock at twelve. She didn't say any more, but just after that I heard the parlor clock begin to strike."