"Oh, it's one of their work songs," said Miss South, and listening again, they made it out.
"Now the cleaning quite to finish,
Pile up every plate,
Shake the cloth, and then with neatness
Fold exactly straight.
Quick, but silent, every motion
Taking things away,
To the pantry, to the kitchen,
With a little tray."
"Their song betrays them," said Miss South; "this part of the work should have been done earlier," and pushing open the door that led from the other end of the pantry, the four found themselves in the girls' dining-room.
"How is this?" asked Miss South so seriously that one of the young girls holding the table-cloth dropped an end suddenly, and both looked sheepish.
"It was such a lovely day that we went out and sat on the back steps," said one of them frankly, "and then we forgot all about this room."
"But it's the rule, is it not, to put this room in perfect order before you wash the dishes?"
"Yes'm—but we forgot."
"Well, I'm not here to scold, but I only wish that you had been as careful about this as about your kitchen work; I noticed that you had left everything there very neat."
"Yes'm," was the answer from both girls at once.
"Where's Miss Dreen, Concetta?"