"I think they are," I replied, and then asked, "what are you going to do?"
"I have sent John for old Jane, who helped us to clean house last spring. But, as likely as not, she's at work somewhere."
Such was in fact the case, for John came in a moment after with that consoling report.
"Go and see Nancy, then," my wife said, sharply, to John, as if he were to blame for Jane's being at work.
John turned away slowly and went on his errand, evidently in not the most amiable mood in the world. It was soon ascertained that Nancy couldn't come.
"Why can't she come?" enquired my wife.
"She says she's doing some sewing for herself, and can't go out this week," replied John.
"Go and tell her that she must come. That my house is upside down, and both the girls are sick."
But Nancy was in no mood to comply. John brought back another negative.
"Go and say to her, John, that I will not take no for an answer: that she must come. I will give her a dollar a day."