fiery
kitchen.

Alice continued her useless labours for a time; then carried her bucket
to the head of the cellar stairway, where she left it upon the top step;
and, closing the door, returned to the "living-room;" Again she changed
the positions of the old plush rocking-chairs, moving them into the
corners where she thought they might be least noticeable; and while
thus engaged she was startled by a loud ringing of the door-bell. For
a moment her face was panic-stricken, and she stood staring, then
she realized that Russell would not arrive for another hour, at the
earliest, and recovering her equipoise, went to the door.

Waiting there, in a languid attitude, was a young coloured woman, with
a small bundle under her arm and something malleable in her mouth.
"Listen," she said. "You folks expectin' a coloured lady?"

"No," said Alice. "Especially not at the front door."

"Listen," the coloured woman said again. "Listen. Say, listen. Ain't
they another coloured lady awready here by the day? Listen. Ain't Miz
Malena Burns here by the day this evenin'? Say, listen. This the number
house she give ME."

"Are you the waitress?" Alice asked, dismally.

"Yes'm, if Malena here."

"Malena is here," Alice said, and hesitated; but she decided not to
send the waitress to the back door; it might be a risk. She let her in.
"What's your name?"

"Me? I'm name' Gertrude. Miss Gertrude Collamus."

"Did you bring a cap and apron?"

Gertrude took the little bundle from under her arm. "Yes'm. I'm all
fix'."

"I've already set the table," Alice said. "I'll show you what we want
done."

She led the way to the dining-room, and, after offering some instruction
there, received by Gertrude with languor and a slowly moving jaw, she
took her into the kitchen, where the cap and apron were put on. The
effect was not fortunate; Gertrude's eyes were noticeably bloodshot,
an affliction made more apparent by the white cap; and Alice drew her
mother apart, whispering anxiously,

"Do you suppose it's too late to get someone else?"

"I'm afraid it is," Mrs. Adams said. "Malena says it was hard enough to
get HER! You have to pay them so much that they only work when they feel
like it."

"Mama, could you ask her to wear her cap straighter? Every time she
moves her head she gets it on one side, and her skirt's too long behind
and too short in front--and oh, I've NEVER seen such FEET!" Alice
laughed desolately. "And she MUST quit that terri