"We aint visitin' here. If I can't work indoors, I'll tell him I'll work outdoors." "It's not proper for you to work today. I want you to sit there in the corner and learn the Fifth Commandment." "Aint you goin' to Cousin Lemuel's?" "On mature reflection, I have decided to remain at home." "I thought you would if you had any sense left. You know well enough we aint wanted down there. I'll go tell him not to hitch up." "Well, I will permit you to do so. Then return to your Sunday task." "I'm goin' to mind him," responded the child. She passed rapidly and apprehensively through the kitchen, but paused on the doorstep to make some overtures to Mrs. Wiggins. If that austere dame was not to be propitiated, a line of retreat was open to the barn. "Say," she began, to attract attention. "Vell, young-un," replied Mrs. Wiggins, rendered more pacific by her breakfast. "Don't you want me to wash up the dishes and put 'em away? I know how." "Hi'll try ye. Hif ye breaks hanythink--" and the old woman nodded volumes at the child. "I'll be back in a minute," said Jane. A moment later she met Holcroft carrying two pails of milk from the barnyard. He was about to pass without noticing her, but she again secured attention by her usual preface, "Say," when she had a somewhat extended communication to make. "Come to the dairy room, Jane, and say your say there," said Holcroft not unkindly. "She aint goin' to Cousin Lemuel's," said the girl, from the door. "What is she going to do." "Rock in the parlor. Say, can't I help Mrs. Wiggins wash up the dishes and do the work?" "Certainly, why not?" "Mother says I must sit in the parlor 'n' learn Commandments 'n' keep Sunday." "Well, Jane, which do you think you ought to do?" "I think I oughter work, and if you and Mrs. Wiggins will let me, I will work in spite of mother." "I think that you and your mother both should help do the necessary work today. There won't be much." "If I try and help Mrs. Wiggins, mother'll bounce out at me. She shook me last night after I went upstairs, and she boxed my ears 'cause I wanted to keep the kitchen fire up last night." "I'll go with you to the kitchen and tell Mrs. Wiggins to let you help, and I won't let your mother punish you again unless you do wrong." Mrs. Wiggins, relying on Jane's promise of help, had sat down to the solace of her pipe for a few minutes, but was about to thrust it hastily away on seeing Holcroft. He reassured her by saying good-naturedly, "No need of that, my good woman. Sit still and enjoy your pipe. I like to smoke myself. Jane will help clear away things and I wish her to. You'll find she's quite handy. By the way, have you all the tobacco you want?" "Vell, now, master, p'raps ye know the 'lowance down hat the poor-us vasn't sich as ud keep a body in vat ye'd call satisfyin' smokin'. Hi never 'ad henough ter keep down the 'ankerin'."