Old Dinah was evidently quaking in her shoes, and began to see her
error, as she glanced reproachfully at me, but no further revelation
seemed to be expected. It was, indeed, to divert, partly, immediate
suspicion from one I still hoped to make my tool, that I mentioned the
Irish girl at all, or craved her presence, but I soon found how futile
in one instance was this trust. No sooner had Mrs. Raymond turned to
depart, than Dinah followed her, protesting against being locked up the
whole evening with the invalid, and begging leave to go out for an hour
or two on business of her own, which she declared important.
"But Miss Monfort may need you in making her preparations," remonstrated
Mrs. Raymond, "and Clayton and Ernie will want your attention; besides,
fires will go down if not constantly mended, this cold evening."
"Dar's plenty of coal in de box, an' de tongs, wid claws, wat Ernie is
so fond of handling ready and waitin' for dem wat's strong enough to use
dem if dey choose, an' tea in de caddy, an' de kittle on de trivet, jes
filled up, de brass toastin'-fork on de peg in de closet, 'sides bread
an' butter, an' jam, an' new milk on de shelf, an' I is 'bliged to go
anyway, case my ticklerest friend am dyin' ob de numony--I is jes got
word; but at nine o'clock" (and she looked maliciously at me) "percisely
Dinah'll be in dis pickin' patch--he! he! he! can't possumbly cum no
airlier.
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