“How in the deuce can you attend to anything I am saying if you keep jumping around so?” demanded the narrator.
“’Scuse me, ma’am; I hears yer good enough, thank yer, ma’am; an’ I has to finish settin’ de table,” pleaded the woman.
“But you make me fidgety, having to turn my head around every minute after you.”
“Werry sorry, ma’am, but de family will ’spect de breakfas’ to be ready for ’em. It’s—it’s a habit dey gibs deirselbes, yer see, ma’am,” pleaded Luce. And at the same moment Jake appeared, with a large waiter in his hands, on which were set the hot edibles to be arranged on the table.
With the help of Luce, he put them all in place, and then took a big, brass bell, and rang it with all his might close to the head of the guest.
“Lord bless us! I like music, but not that sort!” cried the latter, clapping her fat hands over the thick, black curls that covered her ears.
Mr. and Mrs. Force came in, followed by all the family, with the exception of Odalite, who was still in bed, and little Elva, who had volunteered to stay with her.
“Oh, you are here, Mrs. Anglesea? I did not know. I had just sent a servant to call you to breakfast. I hope you slept well?” said the hostess, pleasantly.
“Splendid! Never turned in my bed all night. And how are you? And how is the young gal this morning?” inquired the visitor.
“We are all well, thank you. Will you take this seat, nearest the fire?”