As Frank would not go alone, he hung about the sitting-room, and got well covered with lint while he dodged about among the dry goods.
Jessie, who had never possessed a nice dress, was in ecstasy with everything they showed her, and Mrs. Emory had a double joy in seeing her dear child so appreciative of everything done for her. And the girl told such funny stories about Miss Scrimp and Biddy Lanigan, mimicking them so drolly, that she “brought down the house,” as the critics say.
Hattie spent a very happy afternoon, dined with the family, and was then sent home in the carriage as usual. It was just supper-time at Miss Scrimp’s when she got to the boarding-house, but the old spinster was at the door when the carriage stopped, her eyes fairly green with hate and envy.
Had not Saturday night been so close at hand, and the money for the silk dress expected, there is small room to doubt she would have had a “pick” at Hattie in spite of the fear in which she held her. As it was, she said, as Hattie passed her:
“Some folks ought to feel terrible proud to ride in other folks’ carriages. For me, I’d rather go afoot, when it’s my own shoes I walk in.”
Hattie made no reply, but she paused to say a kind word to some of the girls who were coming in. At the same moment her eyes fell on the new servant whom Miss Scrimp had hired to replace Jessie, for she could not get another girl from the asylum. Her record was already against her there.
This girl had just come over from the “Faderland” far away. She was young and small, but stout-built, and she thundered around on wooden shoes, much to the amusement of the girls, as they came in. She had not a very good idea of American ways, spoke no English, and Miss Scrimp and Biddy Lanigan had to manage her by signs.
The secret of her employment was this: She was got from an intelligence office on a quarter of the going wages, because she wanted to learn the English language, and how to act as a waitress.
Hattie, having dined so late, did not care for supper, so she did not stay to see Marguerite essay her first trials at carrying round tea to the boarders, nor did she know until after supper that the new girl, stumbling as she carried two cups of hot tea in her hands, deposited the contents of both down the scrawny neck and bosom of Miss Scrimp, who, screaming with pain, attempted to box her ears, but got the worst of it in the struggle, for the girl tore off all of Miss Scrimp’s false hair, and left her almost bald-headed, besides damaging the arrangement of the pads, which made up the best part of her form. So Miss Scrimp learned that she had not poor, helpless Jessie Albemarle to deal with now. And as she had engaged this girl for a month, she dared not discharge her without paying her wages, so she drew off to her room to repair damages, and left the new girl and Biddy to wait on the table.
And they managed better without her, for the girl was willing and good-natured, and, after her first mishap, was more careful. Biddy, who had got a hint from the girls that she was to have a dress out of the proceeds of the subscription, bustled around, and between her and Germany, as she called the new girl, the supper ended pleasantly.