It was a blazing hot Sunday morning in September, and the fifth since Mattina had last been out, when as she was sitting in the small kitchen listlessly peeling and slicing a pile of purple aubergines[21] which seemed as though it would never lessen, someone shuffled along the street outside and stopped at the little window which was level with the pavement. It was Kyra Polyxene, the old washerwoman who lived on the top floor of the next house, and who went out washing to nearly all the houses of the neighborhood. Mattina knew her quite well. She had been engaged two or three times to help for a day when the big monthly wash had been an extra heavy one. The brown old face and the gray hair made Mattina think a little of Kyra Sophoula when she looked at her, except that Kyra Polyxene was taller and stouter and wore no kerchief on her head. She put her face close to the window bars and peered in. "Good day, Mattina, what are you doing in there?" Mattina let drop the slice she was holding, into the basin of cold water beside her, and came close to the window. "Good day to you, Kyra Polyxene; I am cutting up aubergines to make a 'moussaka.'"[22] "How is it you have so many aubergines?" "We have people to-day for dinner. The Kyria's sisters are coming, and Taki's godfather also." "And your mistress does not help you?" "She is upstairs dressing the children to take them to hear music in the square. When I first came here she showed me, but now I can make 'moussaka' all alone and it tastes as good as hers." There was a certain pride in Mattina's voice. "Shall you go with them to the music?" "I? No! There is this to finish, and the dining room to sweep, and the table to lay, and if the dinner be not ready at twelve, the master is angered." "And after they have eaten?" "There will be all the plates to wash." "And then?" "Do I know? There is always something." "Listen to me, my girl! Yesterday I washed at a house up at the Kolonaki, and they sent me for a loaf to your uncle's oven, and he was saying that they had not seen you for many days; and he told me to tell you that you must go there this afternoon and that if your mistress makes difficulties, you are to tell her that if she keeps you always closed up, he, your uncle will come and take you away, and find another house for you." Mattina opened her eyes widely. "Did he say so to you, Kyra Polyxene?" "Just as I tell you, my daughter." Mattina wiped her hands on her apron and ran upstairs to her mistress's bedroom. She found her struggling with Taki's stiffly starched sailor collar, while Bebeko sitting on the unmade bed, with unbuttoned boots, was howling for his hat which had been placed out of his reach. "How many more hours are you going to be, cleaning those aubergines, lazy one? How do you want me to dress two children and myself? Have I four hands do you think? Fasten the child's boots and make him stop that crying."