“It’s a good thing,” he said, as he went away amid a chorus of “Thank you.” “Everybody’d ought to help all they can.”
“I’d like to make him a member of the club,” growled Polly, “and turn one or two people I could mention out.”
“Dorcas doesn’t seem so zealous as she did yesterday,” remarked Catherine. “I hope she isn’t angry, because we didn’t fall in with her suggestions.”
Bertha looked conscious, and stole a glance at Agnes, but said nothing. Catherine, catching the look, laughed.
“Father says Dorcas does us all a lot of good, as a counter-irritant. Whenever we begin to feel a little cross with each other, we all turn in and feel very cross with Dorcas. I was simply raging when Max and Bess sailed by in their purple and fine linen, but at least they hadn’t pretended to be interested, and Dorcas–”
“She may be busy,” said Agnes. “There’s a lot of work at their house, and Dorcas usually 50 does her share. I’ll say that much for her, though she does make me awfully angry sometimes. Where is Elsmere? He might go over to the store and get something to polish this window-glass with.”
“I don’t know. Elsmere! Elsmere! Where are you? Come here, dear.” No response.
“O, never mind,” sighed Catherine wearily. “I’m not responsible for him. It is a relief to have him out of the way for a while. I wanted to send him home before, but he had such a sweet lady-like way with him this morning, I couldn’t bring myself to. Girls! Hark!”
The four laborers had dropped upon a long box to rest a few minutes from their toil. Their low voices had been the only sound. Now distinctly, in a remote corner of the room, could be heard a little scratch, scratch. Then across the floor, serene and fearless, “right where I had been sweeping,” Catherine said later with a shiver, ran a small gray mouse.
With one accord the four tucked their skirts about them and sat closer. No one spoke, but each measured the distance to the door with an accurate eye. And then, silently, but with haste, they beat a swift retreat.