"Madam Hubbard, mim," said Lady Magnifico, "may I trouble you for a glass of water?"
"Mamma Hubbard, may I have a hangfiss to wipe off the pastry?"
Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard, and got a goblet for the lady; to the closet, and found a rag for the baby.
By that time she smelt something burning; it was eggs. She had left the patent egg-beater on the stove by accident, and its contents were as black as a shoe.
"O, what a frightful, alarming odor!" cried Lady Magnifico. "If somebody doesn't throw up a window! Madam, do tell us what's afire now!"
"Mother Hubbard's got a dumb chill," said the doctor; "she won't speak."
But Prudy was saying under breath, "Please, God, let me keep pleasant. They don't mean any harm, and I should be ashamed to get angry just about a play."
"What ails you, Mother Hubbard? 'You look as blue as the skimmiest kind of skim-milk.'"
"Do I? Well, no wonder, with such troublesome boarders. Suppose you and my lady go down to the parlor. I don't believe I'm a bit interesting, you know. I'll call you when dinner is ready."
"Agreed! Sharp five, remember."