"O Norton—speak softly!—everybody's going away; and I thought, maybe you would come down and help me get things in order."
"What do you mean, Pink?" said Norton, opening his eyes at her.
"Hush! They are all going away."
"Who?"
"The servants. All of them. Jane is off, and the cook will only stay till after breakfast. The laundry woman is going too. Francis is away, you know, and York. There is nobody but you and me in the house—to stay. I don't know what has got into all their heads."
"You and me!" said Norton. "The unconscionable fools! what are they afraid of?"
"Afraid of trouble, I suppose," said Matilda. "Afraid they will have nursing to do. I don't know what else."
"They ought to be put into the penitentiary!"
"Yes; but Norton, can you come down presently and help?"
"Help what?"