“The idea!” exclaimed Mrs. Fenelby. “I have not even hired you, yet!”
“No, ma’am,” said Bridget, “but th’ young lady has. She hired me with her own mouth, at me own sister Maggie’s, who will be witness t’ it, an’ I have been workin’ in th’ kitchen already. I’ve washed th’ spoons.”
“The young lady,” said Mrs. Fenelby coldly, “has no right to hire servants for me.”
“And hasn’t she, ma’am?” said Bridget angrily. “Let th’ judge in th’ court-house say if she has or hasn’t! Don’t try t’ fool me, Missus Fenelby, ma’am. I’ve worked here before, ma’am, an’ I know all about th’ Commonwealth way ye have of doin’ things. Wan of ye has as good a right t’ vote me into a job as another has, Mrs. Fenelby, an’ th’ young lady an’ th’ young gintleman both asked me t’ come. Even a poor ign’rant Irish girl has rights, Mrs. Fenelby, an’ hired I was, t’ worrk for th’ Commonwealth. An’ here I stay, without ye choose t’ hand me me month’s wages!”
Mrs. Fenelby looked appealingly at Tom, and Tom looked at Billy.
“I think she’d win, if she took it to law,” said Billy. “You know how the judges are. And if she brought up the matter of the Commonwealth, you know you did make Kitty and me full partakers in it.”
“Tom,” said Mrs. Fenelby, “pay her a month’s wages and let her go!”
Mr. Fenelby moved uneasily. He had put all his money into Bobberts’ bank. In all the house there was not a month’s wages except in Bobberts’ bank. Mr. Fenelby looked toward the bank.
“Never!” said Billy. “I put money into that, and so did Kitty. It is for Bobberts, not for month’s wages. I object.”
Mr. Fenelby looked away from the bank. He looked, helplessly, all around the room, and ended by looking at Laura.