“Hullo, mother!” said Andrew.
The room was dusky, and they moved across between the chairs and tables like two shadows.
“Oh, is it you, Andrew?” said his mother. “Who is that with you—Ellen?”
“Yes,” said Ellen. “How do you do, grandma?”
Mrs. Zelotes became suddenly fully awake to the situation; she collected her scattered faculties; her keen old eyes gleamed in a shaft of electric-light from the street without, which fell full upon her face.
“Set down,” said she. “Has the dressmaker gone?”
“No, she hadn't when I came out,” replied Ellen, “but she's most through for to-night.”
“How do your things look?”
“Real pretty, I guess.”
“Sometimes I think you'd better have had Miss Patch. I hope she 'ain't got your sleeves too tight at the elbows.”