"My goodness, Ellen! I guess you have. If Miss Fortune was down, you'd get it. Why, they're bone dry!" said Nancy, plunging her hand into the basket: "you haven't sprinkled 'em, have you?"
"To be sure," said Ellen, with an awakened face, "I forgot it!"
"Here, get out of the way, I'll do it for you," said Nancy, rolling up her sleeves, and pushing Ellen from the table; "you just get me a bowl of water, will you? and we'll have 'em done in no time. Who's a-coming to help you?"
"Nobody."
"Nobody! you poor chicken; do you think you're a-going to do all the work of the house yourself?"
"No," said Ellen, "but I can do a good deal, and the rest will have to go."
"You ain't going to do no such thing; I'll stay myself."
"No, you can't, Nancy," said Ellen, quietly.
"I guess I will, if I've a mind to. I should like to know how you'd help it: Miss Fortune's a-bed."
"I could help it, though," said Ellen; "but I am sure you won't, when I ask you not."