"That is the plain English of the whole thing."
"But you can get more pay outside for less work than you do here."
"Perhaps so, if I knew how to find it; but I never have been so fortunate as to find it before."
I had gone out into the prison as I was talking with her, and stood at the door a moment after she had passed out; but there was no chance for rest during my watch. There came the sound of scolding and contention after me, and recalled me to the kitchen. I hurried back. The fear that some of them would get into a quarrel, beyond my reach to control, always haunted me.
"What is the matter?" I called out at the door.
"The cook is so slow we shall never get this swill out, and I am trying to hurry her," said the sink woman. "She hinders me so I shall never get my work done."
"I can't do no faster than I can," called back the sink woman. "It is no use hurrying me."
"Stop! both of you! Lissett, you know Jennie is slow, and you must have patience with her. Do I not have patience with you? You only make matters worse by fretting. Jennie, you are slow. When you carry swill with Lissett, go as fast as you can, so as not to hinder her; then rest when you get through."
"Do come along!" fretted Lissett, "You are enough to fret a saint."
"That can't be you, Lissett. Haven't I told you, many a time, that you ought to help each other along, instead of scolding and fretting at each other."