“I should not think of supplying your place with a new governess, my dear. Indeed, I have other plans. I have been thinking of going to Washington to spend the winter. If you were to remain with us, I should take you; but, as you are to be married, I shall, instead of engaging a private governess, place my children at some good finishing school—— Well——? Who is there?” suddenly demanded the lady, as a loud rap sounded on the room door.
“Why, it’s me! Who should it be?” said the voice of Mrs. Anglesea, as that jovial lady burst into the room, exclaiming: “I was moped all but to death, all alone by my own self in the big parlor ever since breakfast. As well been at Wild Cats’!”
“Oh, come in, Mrs. Anglesea. I do, indeed, owe you an apology. I hope you will excuse me, but—I have been particularly engaged all the forenoon,” said the mistress of Mondreer, as she arose and placed a chair for her guest.
“Thanky’! I hope I haven’t interrupted you?” said the lady from the gold mines, dropping into the seat.
“Oh, no. We are quite at leisure now,” replied Mrs. Force.
“I wouldn’t have disturbed you by coming here, only I declare to man, I have been in every room in the house looking for some one to talk to, without finding a soul. And I even went into the kitchen, to talk to the cook, but she was out, and there wasn’t a soul there, though the pot was b‘ilin’ over, and the goose was burning in the roaster. So I sat down on a stool on the hearth, and basted the goose and turned it, and much thanks I got for my pains. For presently, when the cook come back with a passel of cold mince pies to be put in the oven and warmed—she had been to the storeroom to fetch ’em—she as much as told me my room was better’n my company, or words to them effects. Leastways, she did say as ladies what was visitors hadn’t no business in her kitchen. So then I come right in here.”
“Our cook only wished to show her respect for you, and to do you honor; but, being a very simple and ignorant negro woman, she did not know how to do so politely and properly,” soothingly replied the lady of the house.
“What I would like is to be useful, and to do somethink to help earn my keep. But, with so many folks about the place. I don’t see as there’s any room for me, or anythink to do; so I reckon I had better vamoose the ranch,” said the lady from Wild Cats’, but without the least loss of temper.
“I beg you to believe that we are all very much pleased to have you remain with us just as long as you can make it convenient to do so,” replied Mrs. Force, with sincere hospitality; for she had nothing but good feeling toward the honest woman who was her chance guest.
“Thanky’. I knowed that. But, you see, I don’t want to dress up in my best clothes every day, and sit in the big parlor, with my hands crossed before me in idleness, all day long. It seems like a sinful wasting of time, in one like me, who for cooking, washing and ironing, or scrubbing, sweeping, and dusting, hasn’t her betters in this univarsal world!” said the colonel’s wife.