“But my name! What will Miss Carruth think?” deplored Katherine.
“Will you leave that to me?” asked Mr. Porter, real compassion in his voice and face for this unhappy little victim of an unscrupulous will.
“I want to stay, oh, I do want to, for Miss Carruth is always so lovely to me.”
“You’s gwine fer ter stay, too,” announced Mammy, autocratically, hastily going to Katherine’s side to soothe and pat as she would have consoled a distressed child.
“Oh, Mammy, Mammy, she won’t let me stay,” sobbed the contrite little soul.
“How she gwine know anything ’bout dese hyer doin’s?” demanded Mammy.
“I don’t see how she can help it.”
“Well, den, I does.”
“Keep your situation, Miss Sniffins, and also keep quiet. I shall tell Miss Constance that you gave the assumed name because you feared she might feel some prejudice against engaging you if she learned you were Mr. Sniffins’ sister; I am sure that is a pretty valid reason, for she has every reason to wish to avoid him; he has never figured pleasantly in her affairs. And now I think we have had enough of all this. But remember this, Sniffins: I mean exactly what I have said, and South Riveredge is no place for your future business operations. You have come pretty near making a serious mess of things for yourself and everyone connected with you, and a halt has been called. Move on, and take a word of advice from a business man of double your years—move straight hereafter. Now go.”
Sniffins left the office by the side door, which Mammy unlocked and held open with this parting shot: