"I had a aunt married a feller by that name," she volunteered. "Was you wishin' to find out somethin' about him or Aunt Milly? Because if so I don't know nothin' about him, nor yet her. I never set eyes on neither of 'em." "I am your Aunt Milly's husband," he told her. "And I have come to find out something about _you_." "It's took you a long time to find your way, ain't it?" Her manner was not cordial. "We will waive that," said he, composedly. "I _am_ here, and my visit concerns yourself. To begin with, do you like living with your mother's step-sister? That is her relationship to your mother and to my wife, I believe?" "No: I don't like livin' with no step-aunt, though she ain't that, bein' further off: an' no real kin. If you want to know why I don't like it, it's all work an' no pay, that's why. First off, when I was too little to do anything else, I minded the children an' run errands an' washed doilies an' towels an' stockin's an' sich, an' set table an' cleared table an' washed dishes an' made beds an' emptied slops. Then I helped cook. Now I cook. Along with plenty other things. How'd you like it yourself?" Her tone was suddenly fierce. The fierceness of a strong and young creature in galling captivity. His wandering life had given him an insight into such conditions and situations; and once or twice he had seen orphan children raised in homes where they "helped out." Chattel slavery is easier by comparison and pleasanter in reality. Before he could answer, "Nan-cy! You Nan-cy! Come on here an' set them pie-plates! My Gawd! that girl's goin' to run me ravin' crazy, tryin' to keep her on her job! Nancy!" Nancy looked at Mr. Champneys speculatively. "Is what you got to say worth me tellin' her to set them plates herself?" she asked. "Well worth it," said Mr. Champneys, emphatically. She jumped for the door with cat-like quickness. Also, she lifted her voice with cat-like ferocity. "I'm busy! I can't co-ome. Set 'em yourself!" "Can't come! What you doin'?" shrieked the other voice. "I'm entertainin' comp'ny in the parler, that's what I'm doin'! It's somebody come to see _me_. An' I'm goin' to wait right here till I find out what they come _for_!" On the heels of that, Nancy slammed the parlor door, and sat down. "Now say what you got to say, an' don't waste no time askin' if I'm stuck on livin' here with somethin' like that!" "You wish, then, to leave your aunt?" "She ain't no aunt of mine, I tell you. She ain't nothin' but my mother's stepfather's daughter by his first wife. Sure I want to leave her. She took me because she needed a servant she didn't have to pay reg'lar wages to. I don't owe her nothin'. Nor him, neither. He's worse 'n her." "They are not kind to you?" "No, they ain't what you'd call kind to me. But you ain't come here to talk about them, I take it. What was you wantin' to see me about, Mister?"