“O ma’am, there’s nothing I mind setting my hand to.”
“Or clean a saucepan?”
“Surely, ma’am, every servant can do that!”
“Who will recommend you?”
“Mrs. Prout knows me very well, ma’am.”
“And so does Mrs. Cheerlove!” said I, laughing. “Oh, Harry! you impostor! I found you out directly!”
“Did you though?” said he, bursting into a fit of laughter, and throwing his disguises right and left, till he stood before me in his original dress. “Phillis didn’t; and a good fright I’ve given her. Served her right, too! Listeners never hear any good of themselves, Mrs. Phillis,” added he, as she put her head a little way into the room.
“Why, I thought I heard a man’s voice, and it gave me quite a turn,” said she, advancing in a hesitating way towards us; “and so I did,—for, whoever would have thought of its being you, Master Prout!”
“You didn’t, it’s certain,” said he, rolling his things up into a bundle, “or you wouldn’t have tried to set me against the place!—so there I have you! Recollect, I’m a lawyer, and can take advantage of you at any time.”
She was, for once, without one word to say.