"Father," said Clara, turning upon him her sweet eyes.
"Well, my love?"
"Perhaps Mrs. Rocke would do us the favor to come here and take charge of our household."
"Eh! What? I never thought of that! I never had a housekeeper in my life!" exclaimed the doctor.
"No, sir; because you never needed one before, but now we really do. Aunt Moggy has been a very faithful and efficient manager, although she is a colored woman; but she is getting very old."
"Yes, and deaf and blind and careless. I know she is. I have no doubt in the world she scours the coppers with the table napkins and washes her face and hands in the soup tureen."
"Oh, father!" said Clara.
"Well, Clare, at least she wants looking after."
"Father, she wants rest in her old age."
"No doubt of it; no doubt of it."