"Oh, ma'am, I--I--" "What is the matter, Matilda ?" demanded Mrs.De Peyster, a trifle stern at this ineptness.
"Nothing, ma'am.

Nothing at all.

I'll see that you get it, b--but I don't know how I'll get it." "Don't know how ?" "You see, ma'am, the butcher, the grocer, everybody thinks I'm the only person in the house.

We've always traded with these same people, and I've stayed here alone now for fifteen summers, and they know I eat very little and care only for plain food.

And so to-day when I ordered all these things, they--they grinned at me.