"Yes, thank you; I’m a good deal better," I answered, grateful for what she said. For there are no more disagreeable people than those who tell you just how you look when you are ailing. Because of this I have always maintained that if you have nothing agreeable to say about one’s looks, you should be silent. Or if you must babble about such matters, should say something that will not depress those you address too much. "I have been kept away from you, my child, by the vexations of housekeeping," Mrs. Singleton went on, "but have known every day how you were getting on." "I expect you find it very hard to get started in your new home," I answered. "Yes; the worry is enough to drive one mad, and it is made worse by the trouble of getting or keeping a servant." "Do you like Appletop as well as you expected?" I asked at a venture. "Oh, yes, and so does Mr. Singleton, who has a fine business; but my girls! they drive me wild." "I’m sorry to hear that," I answered, not sympathizing with her very much, for she was the very picture of health and comfort of life. "Yes; they say we left slavery in Mississippi to make slaves of them here, and indeed it is like it in many ways. For they have to be taught to wash and iron and cook, just as they were taught music when little things; and not knowing how, their hands are skinned by the washboard and burned by hot irons until they are a sight to see." "That’s too bad." "Yes; but they are getting on better now, though they manage in one way and another to put most of the work on poor Betty." "How does Miss Betty like that?" I asked, glad of the reference because of my fondness for her. "She says she doesn’t care, and that in time she will be the best cook in the state." "There’s always one worker in every family, they say," I answered. "Oh, the others like to work, though not to cook; but it is said, you know, that the acorn that doesn’t sprout the pigs eat, and so what one of the dear things lacks, the others make up for," she answered, with a good deal of pride. "That’s true, I’m sure; but haven’t you any wish to go back to Mississippi?" I asked, to encourage her to talk. "No, not if we could. The girls like it here too, I am sure, if their thoughts were known, the air and the freedom are so fine. They all send their love, and will come and see you when the doctor and Constance will permit," she answered, kissing the sweet girl by her side. "I’m sure I shall be glad to see them," I answered, remembering their pleasant ways and many kindnesses to me. "Here is something Betty sends you, and it is her own make," Mrs. Singleton replied, removing the cover from a dish of jelly that looked like amber in the morning sunlight. "Tell Miss Betty I’m much obliged to her," I answered, asking for a spoon that I might try it at once. For I was now hungry all the time, and my thoughts dwelt more on delicacies like this than anything else.