"I want to know if the things ain't been done this week as well as I ever did 'em, could do 'em, or anybody could do 'em on this mighty yeath (earth), ma'am!"
"Come, come, don't get me flustered, woman," cries the poor, faint Mrs. Pompaliner. "Don't come here to worry me; answer me and go."
"So I can go, ma'am!" said Mrs. Brown, with a vigorous toss of her bullet head.
"Stop, will you understand me, Mrs.—a—"
"Brown, ma'am, Brown's my name. I ain't afeard to let anybody know it!" responded the spunky laundress.
The arrival of Olivia, who ushered in Jessamine, turned the current of affairs.
"Jessamine, your gloves on, dear?"
"Yes'm."
"Then go to my boudoir, open the rose-wood clothes case, bring down the skirts, a dozen or two of the mouchoirs, the laces and hose."
The girl departed, and soon returned with a ponderous paper box, laden with the articles required.