"If yer wants my 'pinion 'bout what's gwine on," said Clo, suddenly, as she rose to pile up the dishes she had been using preparatory to making poor Sally wash them in the kitchen; "it's jis' dis yer! Dis trouble's all missus!" "Missus!" repeated Vic. "Now what does yer mean?" cried Dolf. Clo nodded her head several times with gravity and precision. "Yes, missis," she repeated, with the firmness of a person who meant what she said, and was fully prepared to defend her opinion. "What's come over her?" asked Vic. "Dat's jis' it," returned Clo; "now you've hit it prezact--yer might talk a week, Victy, and not come inter de pint agin." Victoria looked at Dolf, and he looked at her, but, however convincing her own words might have seemed to Clorinda, there was nothing to throw any light upon their minds. "Yer's repeatin' wid yer usual knowledge," said Dolf, softly, "but can't yer sperficate a leetle more clear." "Mr. Dolf," said Clorinda, rolling up her eyes 'till only the whites were visible, "when I lives in a house de secrets ob dat house is locked in my bussom--" "But ter feller domestics," put in artful Dolf. "Jis' 'mong us," said Vic. "I know, I feels dat, and so I speak," replied Clo. "I ain't gwine ter say Miss Mellen is a favoright ob mine, 'cause she ain't--but she's my missus. Her ways isn't my ways, dat's all I says, and I hain't recustomed to bein' brung up so sharp roun' de corners as is her way ter do." "Tain't ter be 'spected," said Dolf. "Mebby 'tis and mebby 'tisn't," returned Clorinda; "I only says I ain't recustomed to it, dat's all." "But what do yer tinks happened ter her ter put 'em all in sich a to-do?" questioned Victoria. "I ain't prepared ter say ezzactly," replied Clo, "but I tink she's gwine crossways wid marster and dat lubly angel, Miss Elsie. Dar's a syrup fur ye! She nebber gubs a pusson orders widout eben lookin' at 'em--she ain't so high and mighty dat de ground ain't good 'nuff for her ter walk on! Not but what missus a mighty fine woman--she steps off like a queen, and I tell yer when she's dressed der ain't many kin hold a candle ter her, and as fur takin' de shine off, wal, I'd jis' like ter see anybody do dat." "It's all true," said Dolf, "as true as preachin'!" "Mr. Dolf," said Clo, gravely, "don't take dem seriousnesses so lightsome on yer lips." "I won't," said Dolf, humbly, "I begs ter 'polegise--yer see in gazing 'bout de world a gemman 'quires some parts ob speech as seems keerless, but dey don't come from de heart." "I'se glad dey don't," observed Clorinda, "bery glad, Mr. Dolf." "But what do yer tink missus has done?" demanded Victoria. Such a straightforward question was rather a puzzler to Clorinda, so she answered with a stately air: "Der's questions I couldn't answer eben ter my most intemancies--don't press it, Victy."