in the benefit to
them of having a "help," as he called her, who understood it.

"I think she comes from the lumbering country somewhere near the St.
Lawrence," said Mrs. Rexford, examining the key in the stove-pipe. She
could not have said a moment before where Eliza had come from, but this
phrase seemed to sum up neatly any remarks the girl had let fall about
her father's home.

"_That_ accounts for it! Will you be kind enough to let me see her? I
could explain the mechanism of this stove to her in a few words; then
you, ma'am, need have no further trouble."

She said she should be sorry to trouble him. If the key were all, she
could explain it.

"Pardon me"--he bowed again--"it is _not_ all. There are several inner
dampers at the back here, which it is most important to keep free from
soot. If I might only explain it to the help, she'd know once for all.
I'd be real glad to do you that kindness."

Mrs. Rexford had various things to say. Her speeches were usually
complex, composed of a great variety of short sentences. She asked her
daughters if they thought Eliza would object to coming down. She said
that Eliza was invaluable, but she did not always like to do as she was
asked. She thought the girl had a high temper. She had no wish to rouse
her temper; she had never seen anything of it; she didn't wish to.
Perhaps Eliza would like to come down. Then she asked her daughters
again if they thought Eliza would come pleasantly. Her remarks showed
the track of her will as it veered round from refusal to assent, as
bubbles in muddy water show the track of a diving insect. Finally,
because the young man had a strong will, and was quite decided as to
what he thought best, the girls were sent to fetch Eliza.

Blue and Red ran out of the kitchen. When they got into the next room
they clasped one another and shook with silent laughter. As the door
between the rooms did not shut tightly, they adjured one another, by
dances and gestures, not to laugh loud. Blue danced round the table on
her toes as a means of stifling her laughter. Then they both ran to the
foot of the attic stair and gripped each other's arms very tight by way
of explaining that the situation was desperate, and that one or other
must control her voice sufficiently to call Eliza.

The dining-room they were in was built and furnished in the same style
as the kitchen, save that here the wood was painted slate-colour and a
clean rag carpet covered the floor