"Shut up your tomfoolery," said Bobbo, impatiently, while Winnie exclaimed:
"Come along; let us go in without her."
But at that Biddy dropped the wet clothes she held into the basket, and ran to the doorway.
"Is it mad ye are, Miss Rose? Ye can't go in there. The missus'd be out upon me in a minnit if I let yez in."
"Do let us in," said Rose, coaxingly. "We've got business."
"I can't, Miss Rose. 'Deed I cannot. You don't know the bother he'd kick up!"
"Oh, nonsense!" exclaimed Winnie, pushing past; "we can't help it; perhaps it'll bother him well again."
And so with a little more insistence, and more expostulations from Biddy, they made their way to the parlor and knocked at the door.
"Come in," called Mr. Plunkett.
"If ye will, ye will, an' I can't help yez," remarked Biddy, shaking her head compassionately as the children went into the room.