"Whatever for?"
"To get off the dirt," laughed Agnes.
"I can't think why things get dirty!"
"It's London smoke," remarked Alice sententiously.
"And dust," said Agnes. While she spoke she handed two aprons to her sisters, and a clean piece of flannel each; and before they could ask any more questions she had lifted out the drawers, one by one, and was sweeping the ledges inside. Then she began washing and rubbing and drying in fine style, the little girls imitating her example as fast as they could.
But Jane's window was done before their furniture, and she immediately began to clean the paint round the room.
"This paper looks dirty, miss. I wish you would let me rub it with some bread."
"I do not mind," answered Agnes, looking up from under the washstand, "if you think it will look better."
"I'm sure it will, miss."
"I'll run for the bread," exclaimed Minnie, starting up.