“I was never mair serious in ma life,” Christina returned rather indignantly.
“I didna mean to offend ye,” the other said gently. “But ye ken fine what business is—whiles I think ye ken better nor me, though I’ve been at it for near six-an’-thirty years.”
“I’m not offended,” said Christina, dropping the vernacular for the moment. “And I merely desired to know if your definition of business was the same as mine.”
It always made M. Tod a little nervous when her assistant addressed her in such correct speech. “Business,” she began, and halted. She set the ink-pot on the counter, and tried to put the duster in her pocket.
“A few words will suffice,” the girl remarked encouragingly, and took charge of the duster.
“Business,” resumed the old woman, and quite unconsciously put her hands behind her back, “business is jist buyin’ and sellin’.” And she gave a little smile of relief and satisfaction.
Christina shook her head. “I suppose that’s what they taught ye at the schule—jist the same as they taught me. If it wasna for their fancy departments, sich as physiology an’ Sweedish drill, the schules wud be oot o’ date. ‘Jist buyin’ an’ sellin’!’—Oh, Christopher Columbus!”
M. Tod was annoyed, partly, no doubt, at discovering her hands behind her back, but ere she could express herself Christina added:
“In ma honest opinion business chiefly consists in folk coddin’ yin anither.”
M. Tod gasped. “Coddin’! D’ye mean deceivin’?”