"I thank you very much for letting me call you so! It really went against all old feelings of friendship to call you otherwise."
"Why certainly it did."
"I hope your father and all the family are well?"
"All except mamma, who, you know, is very delicate."
"Yes, I know. They are all down here, of course?"
"No; no one but myself and one man- and maid-servant."
"Indeed!"
"Yes; I came down to see to the last preparations, so as to have everything in order and comfortable for mamma when she comes."
"Still 'mamma's right-hand woman,' Bee!"
"Well, yes; I must be so. You know her health is very uncertain, and there are so many children—two more since you left us, Ishmael! And they are all such a responsibility! And as mamma is so delicate and I am the eldest daughter, I must take much of the care of them all upon myself," replied the girl-woman very gravely.