Miss Johanna Ross might be forty-five, but looked younger. A tall, fine figure of a woman, with dark eyes and hair, the former of a singularly piercing quality. Kitty felt, she told Nelly Chanter afterward, as if at the first glance her spinal marrow had been investigated. She was handsomely and fashionably dressed, and carried a satchel of the latest mode. Her voice was deep-toned, her speech as incisive as Sarepta's own, her gestures and carriage impressive. Such was the lady who now confronted Kitty in the sitting room. "You got my letter last week?" she said. "Has Sarepta got a young woman for me?" "No, Aunt Johanna. The letter was missent, you see: it only came an hour ago." "Missent? Inexcusable! I'll write to the Post Office Department. Well! I may as well explain matters at once, Kitty; Sarepta, you'd better wait a minute, as this concerns you also." Miss Ross sat down on the leather sofa, and looked thoughtfully from Kitty to Sarepta, and back again. "I haven't been here for twenty years," she said. "I am actually glad I came!" She seemed surprised at this, and pondered a moment. Sarepta sniffed slightly: Kitty was silent, hardly knowing what to say. "I have retired from business," Miss Ross went on in a clear, explanatory voice, "because I am tired. I intend to take to my bed--What is it?" She paused: Kitty had uttered a cry of surprise. "Nothing, Aunt Johanna. Did I understand--are you ill, Aunt Johanna?" "Not in the least. I have never been ill in my life, except for measles at the age of five. I tell you I am tired, and I intend to take to my bed. For twenty years," Miss Ross went on, still more explanatorily, "I have been Rug and Tapestry Expert for Kostly and Richmore:" she named one of the great houses of New York. "During these twenty years I have been on my feet all day, and often half the night. I have now retired--on a competence--and, as I said before, I intend to take to my bed. I am used to wholesale ways," she added with a smile. "I have worked in a wholesale way; now I mean to rest in a wholesale way. Have you found me a maid, Sarepta?" "Land sakes!" cried Sarepta, throwing her hands out in indignant protest. "Why, it ain't an hour since we heard you was coming!" "True!" Miss Ross paused and considered. "Well! I suppose you can find me one?" "I dunno as I can, and I dunno _as_ I can!" replied Sarepta cautiously. "What do you want of her, Miss Ross?" Miss Ross laughed outright, a merry laugh which somehow transformed her rather sharp face. "To take care of me, Miss Darwin! You don't suppose I expected you to take care of me, do you? Find me a young girl, whom I can order about, and send on errands and bully, and throw things at. I couldn't throw the bolster at you, Miss Darwin!"