She was the only lodger in the house when I first came, and I made myself so agreeable to the old lady that in a few days she would not be satisfied unless I waited upon her entirely. I heard her say to Mrs. Preedy, as I was in the passage outside the door—quite by accident, of course; I had my broom in my hand, you may be sure—I heard her say—
“Why didn’t you send Becky up? I like Becky—I like Becky!”
I have no doubt, if she had had a parrot in the room, that it would have learned to say—
“I like Becky!—I like Becky!”
But I took no notice until Mrs. Preedy said to me—
“Becky, Mrs. Bailey’s taken quite a fancy to you.”
“I’m glad to hear it, mum,” I replied.
You should hear me say “mum.” I have made quite a study of the word.
From that time I have waited upon Mrs. Bailey pretty regularly. Mrs. Preedy has not failed to impress upon me, if anything happens to the old lady, if she is “took ill” (she has an idea that the old lady will “go off sudden”) while I am in her room, that I am to run down for her “immediate.”