Luce went in and out between the kitchen and the dining room, and to and fro between the sideboard, the buffet and the table, with a:
"'Scuse, ma'am," every time she went out of hearing.
"How in the deuce can you attend to anything I am saying if you keep jumping around so?" demanded the narrator.
"'Scuse me, ma'am; I hears yer good enough, thank yer, ma'am; an' I has to finish settin' de table," pleaded the woman.
"But you make me fidgety, having to turn my head around every minute after you."
"Werry sorry, ma'am, but de family will 'spect de breakfas' to be ready for 'em. It's--it's a habit dey gibs deirselbes, yer see, ma'am," pleaded Luce. And at the same moment Jake appeared, with a large waiter in his hands, on which were set the hot edibles to be arranged on the table.
With the help of Luce, he put them all in place, and then took a big, brass bell, and rang it with all his might close to the head of the guest.
"Lord bless us! I like music, but not that sort!" cried the latter, clapping her fat hands over the thick, black curls that covered her ears.
Mr. and Mrs. Force came in, followed by all the family, with the exception of Odalite, who was still in bed, and little Elva, who had volunteered to stay with her.
"Oh, you are here, Mrs. Anglesea? I did not know. I had just sent a servant to call you to breakfast. I hope you slept well?" said the hostess, pleasantly.
"Splendid! Never turned in my bed all night. And how are you? And how is the young gal this morning?" inquired the visitor.
"We are all well, thank you. Will you take this seat, nearest the fire?"
"Oh, anywheres convenient. I don't care where I sit."
The other members of the family party greeted the visitor, and then seated themselves at the table.
The visitor was voluble, as usual, praising everything she tasted, and eating heartily of every dish.
When they all arose from the table, she shook the crumbs off her lap on the floor, turned to her hostess, and said:
"Now, old 'oman, if you've got any sewing to do, here's the hands that can do it. I ain't one to sit down and eat the bread of idleness, I tell you. So, if you have got any stockings to darn, or shirts to patch, or anything else to be done in the way of making or mending, just give it to me, and I'll earn my keep, I tell you."
