"And then," said Margery, "she used to skim the cream for me, most mornings, when I'd be busy; and wash up the breakfast things "
"Oh, I forgot all about the breakfast things!" exclaimed Ellen "how could I! I'll do them to be sure, after this. I never thought of them, Margery. And I'll skim the cream too."
"Dear Miss Ellen, I wouldn't want you to: I didn't mention it for that, but you was wishing me to tell you I don't want you to trouble your dear little head about such work. It was more the thoughtfulness that cared about me than the help of all she could do, though that wasn't a little I'll get along well enough."
"But I should like to it would make me happier; and don't you think I want to help you too, Margery?"
"The Lord bless you, Miss Ellen," said Margery, in a sort of desperation, setting down one iron and taking up another; "don't talk in that way, or you'll upset me entirely. I ain't a bit better than a child," said she, her tears falling fast on the sheet she was hurriedly ironing.
"What else, dear Margery?" said Ellen presently. "Tell me what else?"
"Well, Miss Ellen," said Margery, dashing away the water from either eye, "she used to look over the clothes when they went up from the wash; and put them away; and mend them if there was any places wanted mending."
"I am afraid I don't know how to manage that," said Ellen, very gravely. "There is one thing I can do I can darn stockings very nicely: but that's only one kind of mending. I don't know much about the other kinds."
"Ah, well, but she did, however," said Margery, searching in her basket of clothes for some particular pieces. "A beautiful mender she was, to be sure! look here, Miss Ellen just see that patch the way it is put on so evenly by a thread all round; and the stitches, see and see the way this rent is darned down oh, that was the way she did everything!"
"I can't do it so," said Ellen, sighing "but I can learn that I can do. You will teach me, Margery won't you?"