'How, do you mean so many?'
'Why, marm, it's the cook's birthday; and she thought you would'nt mind her having a few friends, so she invited her cousins,' (looking at me as though she would ask, 'what have you got to say to that, Mr. Man?')
'Well, Sabina,' said Mary, coloring up in confusion, 'just sign your name to this—it is only as a witness.'
'I cannot write, marm,' answered dandy Amazon, very short at being exposed.
'Then send Elizabeth here.'
'She is out too, marm.'
'What? Elizabeth has gone out?'
'Yes marm, you see,' (becoming confidential,) 'the cook and her has quarrelled like—she neglected to ask her to her little party till late this evening, and so she got huffy and put on her things and dashed out of the house,' (at this time I had either an attack of the ague or was laughing so hard internally that it leaked through.)
'Is Dinah in?'
'Yes marm.'