That remark of mine hit wide of the mark. Instead of touching her compassion it roused the spirit of mischief.
She was on duty that night in prison, and, restless as the renowned adventurer who went to and fro in the earth seeking whom he might devour, she went on a search through the cells of the first division where my kitchen women lodged.
The Deputy had ordered me to supply the women, on that division, with all the blankets they wanted, because they worked in the kitchens where it was hot and the air full of steam. And being the lowest tier of cells, they were colder than the others.
I had done as he directed me, so that some of them had four or five. Allen, my steam woman, an old woman of nearly sixty, had six.
Mrs. Hardhack stripped their beds, and counted their blankets. She took off all but two, and locked them up in a black cell.
The sweep who sat 'tending the door saw the proceeding, and ran to tell me what was going on.
"Mrs. Hardhack is stripping the blankets off the women's beds, and she hasn't left poor old Allen but two little strips of rags."
I went to see what she was doing. No sooner did her eye light on me than she commenced to show me how well educated she was in the use of the dictionary.
"Here are your women with six blankets, and the rule is that they shall have only two. A double one and a single one."
I was in no wise accountable to her, and did not think it necessary to answer. I stood and looked at her. She went on,—