esh and blood," said the woman.
"Wages don't pay for life, do they? I'm off as soon as I've got the
breakfast. I'll do that, and give Mrs. Laval that much chance. She
ain't a bad woman."

"Is the laundry-maid going too?"

"O' course. She had her warning, weeks ago, and so had I mine. Mrs.
Laval sent for them furriners to fill her house with them; and now she
must make the best of 'em she can. It ain't my fault if they're no use
to her."

Matilda went up-stairs again, pondering what was to be done. She went
softly up to Norton's door and knocked. It was not easy to rouse him;
nothing stirred; and Matilda was afraid of awaking his mother, whose
door was not far off. At last she opened Norton's door a bit and called
to him.

"What is it?" cried Norton, as soon as the noise found a way to his
brain. "Is it you, Pink? Hold on,--I'll be there in less than no time!
What's to pay?"

Matilda waited, till in another minute Norton presented himself, half
dressed, and with his hair all shaggy, outside his door.

"O Norton, can you be dressed very quickly?"

"Yes. What's the matter? I am going down to see to the horses. What do
you want, Pink?"

"O Norton--speak softly!--everybody's going away; and I thought, maybe
you would come down and help me get things in order."

"What _do_ you mean, Pink?" said Norton, opening his eyes at her.

"Hush! They are all going away."

"Who?"

"The servants. All of them. Jane is off, and the cook will only stay
till after breakfast. The laundry woman is going too. Francis is away,
you know, and York. There is nobody but you and me in the house--to
stay. I don't know what has got into all their heads."

"You and me!" said Norton. "The unconscionable fools! what are they
afraid of?"

"Afraid of trouble, I suppose," said Matilda. "Afraid they will have
nursing to do. I don't know what else."

"They ought to be put into the penitentiary!"

"Yes; but Norton, can you come down presently and help?"

"Help what?"

"Me. I want to set the table for breakfast, and I don't know where
things are, you know. I am going to set the table, if you'll show me."

"I should think you didn't know where things are! Stop--I'll be there
directly."

Norton disappeared, but Matilda had no idea of stopping. She went
down-stairs softly again, and opened the windows, such of them as she
could manage; applied to the powers below-stairs for broom and duster,
and went at her old work of putting rooms in or