I was astonished at his taking me up so, and said, decidedly—“James, the name of my footman is always James. You may call yourself what you please, I shall always call you James.”
The idea of the man’s undertaking to arrange my servants’ names for me!
Well, he showed me his references, which were very good, and I was quite satisfied. But there was the terrible calf business that must be attended to. I put it off a great while, but I had to begin.
“Well, James!”—and there I stopped.
“Yes, ma’am,” said he.
“I wish—yes—ah!”—and I stopped again.
“Yes, ma’am,” said he.
“James, I wish you had come in knee-breeches.”
“Ma’am?” said he in great surprise.
“In knee-breeches, James,” repeated I. — “What be they, ma’am? what for, ma’am?” said he, a little frightened, as I thought.