"Mother," Patty asked, appearing in the doorway, "what is the trouble?"
"Bathalina has gone traipsing off to her funeral again; and here are these cucumbers to do, and the kitchen all in heaps. She's got fool in the head worse than ever to-day."
"What awful slang, mother. Never mind, I'll help."
The next visitor to the kitchen was Flossy, who, having searched the rest of the house for her cousin, at length discovered her with sleeves rolled up, engaged in washing dishes.
"Goodness gracious, Patsy!" she exclaimed. "Are you here?"
"Mercy sakes, Flossy!" said her aunt. "Don't say 'goodness gracious,' it sounds so."
"No: I'll say 'mercy sakes,' Aunt Britann," her niece returned saucily. "Patty, what are you washing dishes for?"
"Somebody must do it; and Bathalina, the insane, has gone off."
"You are becoming a very model miss. Have you forgotten they are coming this morning to read this play?"