"I am the lady of the house at present," said the stranger, with a whimsical smile. "What can I do for you?"
"Have you ever heard of the—would you like, or I mean—do you need any soap?" queried Rebecca.
"Do I look as if I did?" he responded unexpectedly.
Rebecca dimpled. "I didn't mean THAT; I have some soap to sell; I mean I would like to introduce to you a very remarkable soap, the best now on the market. It is called the"—
"Oh! I must know that soap," said the gentleman genially. "Made out of pure vegetable fats, isn't it?"
"The very purest," corroborated Rebecca.
"No acid in it?"
"Not a trace."
"And yet a child could do the Monday washing with it and use no force."
"A babe," corrected Rebecca