And while she was a-lookin’, the plasterin’ bein’ off considerable, and the partition jest papered over, I heard ’em a-sayin’, and they seemed to be a-cryin’ as they said it:
“What did she want to come here for? I should think she would know enough to stay away!”
“To think we have got to be tormented by seein’ her!” says another voice.
“I hate to have her come as bad as you do, children,” says another voice that I knew was Delila’s. “But we must try to bear up under it. She won’t probably stay more than two or three hours.”
“I thay, I hope she won’t sthay two minith,” says a lispin’ voice.
“We won’t let her stay,” says a little fine voice.
I declare for’t, if it hadn’t been for my principles and my vow, I would have turned right round in my tracks. But I remembered that it wusn’t the most pious folks that needed the most preachin’, and if ever premiscues advisin’ seemed to be called for, it was now. And jest as I was a-rememberin’ this, the hired girl came back.
The minute she opened that parlor door, I see that I had got into the house of mournin’. The room, which resembled the hall and front door, as if they was three twins, seemed to be full of baraze delaine and bebinet lace, and thin ribbon, all bathed in tears and sobs. When I took a closer look, I see there was eight or nine wimmen under the gauzes, and frizzles, and folderols and et cetery. Some of ’em had dime novels in their hands and one of ’em held a white pup.
The moment I entered, every one of ’em jumped up and kissed me, and throwed their arms right round me. Some of the time I had as many as six or seven arms at a time round me in different places. And every one was a-tellin’ me in awful, warm tones, how too glad, how highly tickled they was to see me. They never was so carried away with enjoyment before in their hull lives, they said.