“Yes, I know; but I don’t know why it should be so. I think they might just as well stay here and dance all night with us, and take an early train straight through to New York, as to start from here this evening and stop all night in Baltimore. I think it would be kinder in them, considering how far they are going, and how long they will be away.”
“But it would be so fatiguing to Odalite. At least, Mrs. Force said so. This is her plan,” Polly explained.
“Well, we had better hurry and dress. It is very warm in this room. Think of feeling summer heat on the first of April in a room where there is no visible fire! Oh! this heating by steam and lighting by gas is just wonderful!” exclaimed Sophy.
“I like open wood fires and astral lamps best,” said Nanny.
“Oh! but the modern improvements are so clean and tidy!” put in Peggy.
“I wonder what our colored servants would say to them,” mused Polly, aloud.
“And even others—Miss Sibby, for instance. What would Miss Sibby say to gas and steam?” suggested Sophy.
“Oh! I can tell you what she would say,” exclaimed Wynnette, who suddenly entered the room, and mimicked the old lady. “She would say: ‘Them as has the least to do with gas and steam, sez I, comes the best off, sez I.’ That would be her ipse dixit, for she don’t believe in newfangled notions, as she calls our boasted modern improvements.”
“Oh, Wynnette! Already dressed! and we not half ready! We shall be late, I fear,” exclaimed Sophy.
“You will that, if you don’t stir your stumps—I mean accelerate your action,” replied frank Wynnette.