In just ten minutes mammy returned to the room, dressed for her journey, and equipped with a carpet bag that contained all her travelling belongings.
“You have been very quick,” said Drusilla, approvingly.
“Yes, honey; which it is my pride and ambition always so to be. I had half an hour; that’s thirty minutes—three times ten. The first ten minutes I gives to getting myself ready. Now, the next ten minutes I gives to something else,” said mammy, speaking hastily, and, while speaking, drawing from a closet a small red morocco trunk, which she proceeded to pack with a full supply of body linen and all the necessaries of a baby’s first toilet, setting the baby’s basket in the tray in the top of the trunk.
“What is all that for?” inquired Drusilla, who was busy hooking up her travelling dress.
“Never you mind, honey. You go on a fixing of yourself, and leave me alone. And there, the second ten minutes is up!” said the old woman, as she fastened down and locked the trunk.
“But what is that for?” persisted Drusilla.
“Lor’, honey, does you forget? There’s three of us going this journey. And that trunk is for the third one. And now I have got only the last ten minutes left, and I must give that to something else still,” said mammy, as she flew down stairs.
Meanwhile Drusilla, while putting on her cloak, bonnet and gloves, gave Pina many charges about the care of the house, the birds, the dogs, and all the pets of the establishment, which would be in her charge during the absence of the mistress.
And Pina promised the utmost fidelity; but begged her lady to order Leo to sleep in the house, because she, Pina, would be afraid to sleep there alone.
Drusilla had but just promised this, when “mammy” reappeared with a large and well-filled luncheon basket.