"It is not the deefeeculty; it is the disgrace. I am a great artist--a
chef--it hurts the soul of the artist to--"
"I don't want an artist in the kitchen. I want a cook. Artists paint
picters; they don't boil potatoes. What do you mean?"
"You do not understand, Madame. I am an artist; I have cooked in the
best houses."
"Ain't this a good house?"
"It was, Madame; and I was proud to serve you until the house was
turned into an orphan asylum, a--a--home for children of the street,
and--"
Drusilla flushed suddenly.
"That'll do, cook. I've heard all I want. Perhaps you're a great cook,
but when you cook for me you'll cook for whoever is under my roof. And
I want you to understand that this is not an orphan asylum. These
children are my visitors; and so long as they're in my house, they'll
eat, and if you don't want to cook for them, well--you can cook for
some one else. You can go, cook. Mr. Thornton'll give you your money."
And Drusilla sat down a very angry and ruffled Drusilla.
"Orphan asylum, indeed! He'll be callin' it a home next. What does
anybody want with a man in the kitchen--especially a man who's got more
hair under his nose than on his head!"
She was quiet for a while; then she laughed softly to herself.
"The Lord takes care of his own. Now I been wondering all day how to
get that man here, and here's my chance. Jane, tell some one to
telephone Mr. Thornton's brother to stop here on his way from the
office. I want to speak to him particularly."
It was nearly six o'clock before the lawyer's motor stopped before
Drusilla's door. When the lawyer came in Drusilla said to herself, "I
don't blame his girl none. He's worse'n his brother;" but she turned
smilingly to him.
"I'm afraid that I've called you in on business that'll seem mighty
little to a man," she said; "but it's big to a woman. I'm changin'
cooks."
Mr. Thornton smiled.
"I don't see where you require my services--"
"Oh, yes, I do. You know the expenses of this house are kept up by the
estate, and you pay all the servants. Now I don't like to send a cook
away unless I tell you. But this cook's _goin'_ and he's goin' sudden."
"Isn't he a good cook?"
"Yes, I suppose he is; but, between you and me and the gatepost, I
won't be sorry to see the last of him. I guess he's a fine cook for
fancy cookin', but I been used to plain things all my life and I'm
tired of things with French names. When I have a stew I like to have a
stew, and I'd like real American vittles once in a while. Some good
pork and beans and cabbage that ain't all covered up with flummadiddles
so that I don't know I'm eatin' cabbage; an' I like vegetables that
ain't all cut up in fancy picters, and green corn on a cob without a
silver stick in the end of it. I liked his things real well at first;
but he can't make pie and his cakes is too fancy--and, well--he got
sassy and said he wouldn't cook for a lot of babies, and he's goin'.
You just be sure of that, Mr. Thornton; he's _goin'."_