_Bill_. Yesterday, Mattie--jest arter you give me the tart. I sawr him again this mornin', but he wouldn't place no confidence in me. _Mat_. Oh dear! Why didn't you come straight to me, Bill? _Bill_. If I'd only ha' known as you wanted him! But that was sech a _un_likely thing! It's werry perwokin'! I uses my judgment, an' puts my hoof in it! I _am_ sorry, Mattie. But I didn't know no better (_crying_). _Mat_. Don't cry, Bill. You'll find him for me yet--won't you? _Bill_. I'm off this indentical minute. But you see-- _Sus_. There! there!--now you mizzle. _I_ don't want no fathers here--goodness knows; but the poor girl's took a fancy to hers, and she'll die if she don't get him. Run now--there's a good boy! (_Exit_ BILL.) You 'ain't forgotten who's a comin', Mattie? _Mat_. No, indeed. _Sus_. Well, I hope she'll be civil, or I'll just give her a bit of my mind. _Mat_. Not enough to change hers, I'm afraid. That sort of thing never does any good. _Sus_. And am I to go a twiddlin' of my thumbs, and sayin' _yes, ma'am_, an' _no, ma'am_? Not if I knows it, Matilda! _Mat_. You will only make her the more positive in her ill opinion of us. _Sus_. An' what's that to me? _Mat_. Well, I don't like to be thought a thief. Besides, Mrs. Clifford has been kind to us. _Sus_. She's paid us for work done; so has old Nathan. _Mat_. Did old Nathan ever give you a glass of wine when you took home his slops? _Sus_. Oh! that don't cost much; and besides, she takes it out in kingdom-come. _Mat_. You're unfair, Susan. _Sus_. Well, it's little fairness I get. _Mat_. And to set that right you're unfair yourself! What you call speaking your mind, is as cheap, and as nasty, as the worst shoddy old Nathan ever got gobble-stitched into coats and trousers. _Sus_. Very well, Miss Matilda! (_rising and snatching her bonnet_). The sooner we part the better! You stick by your fine friends! I don't care _that_ for them! (_snapping her fingers_)--and you may tell 'em so! I can make a livin' without them or you either. Goodness gracious knows it ain't much of a livin' I've made sin' I come across _you_, Miss! _Exit_. _Mat_ (_trying to rise_). Susan! Susan! (_Lays her head on the table_). _A tap at the door, and enter_ MRS. CLIFFORD, _with_ JAMES _behind_. MATTIE _rises_. _Mrs. C._ Wait on the landing, James. _James_. Yes, ma'am. _Exit_ JAMES, _leaving the door a little ajar_. _Mrs. C._ Well, Miss Pearson! (_Mattie offers a chair_.) No, thank you. That person is still with you, I see! _Mat_. Indeed, ma'am, she's an honest girl. _Mrs. C._ She is a low creature, and capable of anything. I advise you to get rid of her. _Mat_. Was she rude on the stair, ma'am? _Mrs. C._ Rude! Vulgar--quite vulgar! Insulting! _Mat_. I am very sorry. But, believe me, ma'am, she is an honest girl, and never pawned that work. It was done--every stitch of it; and the loss of the money is hard upon us too. Indeed, ma'am, she did lose the parcel.