“Well, I guess I aint going to crock my hands when I’m starching the doctor’s shirts!” quoth Kitty, with a toss of her head. After many awkward attempts, poor Anna at length succeeded in _tilting_ the huge pot from off the hook which held it suspended over the crackling flames, though not without imminent danger of scalding her pretty feet. “Sakes alive, what a fuss!” muttered the girl, “and a nice grease spot, too, for me to scour up!” The mildness and patience of Anna, however, at length overcame the stubbornness of Kitty—so true it is that the most obstinate natures will yield to kindness and gentleness. Wiping her sinewy arms upon her apron, which she then took off and threw into a corner, she came forward, evidently rather ashamed of herself, to the assistance of the perplexed young housekeeper. “I guess, _Miss_ Forbes, if you’ll just set the table in there, before _he_ comes, I’ll do the steak, and peel the ’taters; maybe you aint so much used to this sort of work.” Anna, gladly yielding up her place, proceeded to prepare the little dining table, which she managed with more tact, yet keeping a watchful, inquiring eye upon the movements of Kitty, that she might be more _au fait_ to business another time. Still the high-bred beauty, as she continued her employment, missed many things which she had always considered indispensable—inquired for silver forks—napkins—and even puzzled poor Kitty’s brain by demanding where the finger-glasses were kept. “Silver forks!” cried Kitty, “I never heard of such a thing. Do tell, now, if city folks be so proud! Napkins! I guess you mean towels. Why _he_ always wipes on that are roller in the back _pizaz_. Finger-glasses! Sakes alive!—what does the woman mean? _Finger-glasses!_ Well, that beats all creation, and more too!” and with a hearty laugh, she slapped the steak upon the platter just as the gig of Rupert stopped at the gate. The happy wife, now forgetting all annoyances, flew to meet her beloved husband, and while partaking of their simple dinner, greatly amused him by her artless details of that morning’s experience. But Rupert was obliged to go out again immediately, leaving Anna once more solitary. She had, however, learned a lesson; and knowing it would be vain to look for Kitty’s assistance, she herself unpacked her beautiful dresses, feeling sadly at a loss for commodious bureaus and extensive wardrobes to contain her splendid paraphernalia. To hang up those rich silks and satins on wooden pegs against a white-washed wall, seemed desecration; so these she refolded, and placed once more in her trunk, determining in her own mind that Rupert must at once supply those essential articles, which she was very sure it would be impossible to do without. Countless bareges, cashmeres, and mousselines, however, cast their variegated tints through the chamber, and the one bureau, and the little dressing-table were loaded with finery.