"I'll do anything you please," said Nancy, "if you'll get Miss Fortune to let me stay. Come do, Ellen! It will be splendid! and I'll help you finely, and I won't bother you neither. Come, go ask her; if you don't, I will." "I can't, Nancy; she don't want anybody; and it worries her to talk to her. I can't go and ask her." Nancy impatiently flung down the cloth she was sprinkling, and ran up stairs. In a few minutes she came down with a triumphant face, and bade Ellen go up to her aunt. "Ellen," said Miss Fortune, "if I let Nancy stay will you take care of the keys, and keep her out of the buttery?" "I'll try to, Ma'am, as well as I can." "I'd as lief have her as anybody," said Miss Fortune, "if she'd behave. She was with me a little in the winter. She is smart, and knows the ways. If I was sure she would behave herself — but I am afraid she will go rampaging about the house like a wild cat." "I think I could prevent that," said Ellen; who, to say truth, was willing to have anybody come to share what she felt would be a very great burden. "She knows I could tell Mr. Van Brunt if she didn't do right, and she would be afraid of that." "Well," said Miss Fortune, disconsolately, "let her stay, then. O, dear, to lie here! — but tell her if she don't do just what you tell her, I'll have Mr. Van Brunt turn her out by the ears. And don't let her come near me, for she drives me mad. And, Ellen, put the keys in your pocket. Have you got a pocket in that dress?" "Yes, Ma'am." "Put 'em in there, and don't take 'em out. Now, go." Nancy agreed to the conditions with great glee; and the little housekeeper felt her mind a good deal easier; for though Nancy herself was somewhat of a charge, she was strong, and willing, and ready, and, if she liked anybody, liked Ellen. Mr. Van Brunt privately asked Ellen if she chose to have Nancy stay; and told her, if she gave her any trouble, to let him know, and he would make short work with her. The young lady herself also had a hint on the subject. "I'll tell you what," said Nancy, when this business was settled, — "we'll let the men go off to Mrs. Van Brunt's to meals; we'll have enough to do without 'em. That's how Miss Fortune has fixed herself— she would have Sam and Johnny in to board; they never used to, you know, afore this winter." "The men may go," said Ellen, "but I had a great deal rather Mr. Van Brunt would stay than not — if we can only manage to cook things for him; we should have to do it, at any rate, for ourselves, and for grandma." "Well — _I_ ain't as fond of him as all that," said Nancy, "but it'll have to be as you like, I suppose. We'll feed him somehow." Mr. Van Brunt came in to ask if they had anything in the house for supper. Ellen told him "plenty," and would have him come in just as usual. There was nothing to do but to make tea; cold meat and bread and butter and cheese were all in the buttery; so that evening went off very quietly.