"
Mrs. Sampson laughed.
"Oh, it isn't of the least consequence," she answered. "If I was
inclined to complain it would be because after keeping me waiting for
six weeks for this work, you come just when I have company staying with
me, and gentlemen coming to dine."
She had walked into the room with a not illy simulated air of having
come with the intention of going out again immediately, and stood well
posed, so that her fine figure came out in relief against a crimson
Japanese screen.
"I haven't anything to do with that, ma'am," Stanton replied. "The boss
makes out the orders, and we go where we are sent."
"Well," the widow said, smiling brilliantly, and moving across the room
to the table where the dishes taken from the closet were piled, "it
can't be helped, I suppose; but I hope you will let me get things
cleared up in time for dinner."
"Oh, I'll surely get through by eleven or half past."
"And I don't have dinner till half past six."
The carpenter looked up questioningly. Then he went on with his work.
"I never can get used to city ways," he observed. "I don't see how
folks can get along without having dinner in the middle of the day when
it's dinner time."
Mrs. Sampson busied herself with the plates, arranging things on the
sideboard ready for evening. Her guest, Miss Merrivale, was out driving
with Fred Rangely, and the widow's resources in the way of servants
were so limited that it was necessary that the hands of the mistress
should attend to many of the details of the housekeeping.
Pages:
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211