"Now this was pure impromptu 'gag,' and my mother would have done better to confine herself to the rehearsed dialogue. "'Oh, missus!' cried Selina. 'How can you say that? Why, this is the first moment I've come down.' "'Yes,' said my mother, gladly seizing the opportunity of slipping back into the text. 'Somebody had to do the work, Selina. In this world no work can go undone. If those whose duty it is do not do it, it must fall on the shoulders of other people. That is why I got up at seven this morning instead of you and have tidied up the place and made the master's breakfast.' "'That was real good of you!' exclaimed Selina, with impulsive admiration. "My mother began to feel that the elaborate set piece was going off in a damp sort of way, but she kept up her courage and her saintly expression and continued, "'It was freezing when I got out of my warm bed, and before I could get the fire alight here I almost perished with cold. I shouldn't be surprised if I have laid the seeds of consumption.' "'Ah,' said Selina with satisfaction. 'Now you see what I have had to put up with.' She took another piece of toast. "Selina's failure to give the cues extremely disconcerted my mother. Instead of being able to make the high moral remarks she had intended, she was forced to invent _repartées_ on the spur of the moment. The ethical quality of these improvisations was distinctly inferior. "'But you are paid for it, I'm not,' she retorted sharply. "'I know. That is why I say it is so good of you,' replied Selina, with inextinguishable admiration. 'But you'll reap the benefit of it. Now that I've had my breakfast without any trouble I shall be able to go about my work a deal better. It's such a struggle to get up, I assure you, missus, it tires me out for the day. Might I have another egg?' "My mother savagely pushed her another egg. "'I'm thinking it would be a good plan,' said Selina, meditatively opening the egg with her fingers, 'if you would get up instead of me every morning. But perhaps that was what you were thinking of.' "'Oh, you would like me to, would you?' said my mother. "'I should be very grateful, I should indeed,' said Selina earnestly. 'And I'm sure the work would be better done. There don't seem to be a speck of dust anywhere,'--she rubbed her dirty thumb admiringly along the dresser--'and I'm sure the tea and toast are lots nicer than any I've ever made.' "My mother waved her hand deprecatingly, but Selina continued: "'Oh yes, you know they are. You've often told me I was no use at all in the kitchen. I don't need to be told of my shortcomings, missus. All you say of me is quite true. You would be ever so much more satisfied if you cooked everything yourself. I'm sure you would.' "'And what would _you_ do under this beautiful scheme?' inquired my mother with withering sarcasm.