len's
tortoise-shell cat, and set her in a stuffed chair by the west window.

Then she called the children; and Mother Hubbard and Lady Magnifico
rushed in, followed by the Man in the Moon and his baby.

"Good morning, all; I hope I see you well," said Mrs. Fixfax, as sober
as Nathaniel himself. "This room is yours as long as you like. Make
yourselves perfectly at home."

"Thank you ever so much," replied Mother Hubbard, bobbing her head,
while the "pillow-sham" ruffles waved this way and that, like a field of
ripe grain.

"Whenever you want anything, just ring this bell, and I will come; or,
if you ring the other one, it will bring Rachel. And, Miss Prudy, here
is the 'Young Housekeeper's Friend;' perhaps you would like to look it
over."

Mother Hubbard blushed to her cap-border, and took the book with another
"Thank you ever so much," but did not know what else to say to such a
dignified woman.

The truth was, Mrs. Fixfax was trying so hard to keep from laughing,
that her manner was rather stiff and cold.

"I have left the ventilator open," thought she. "The children are full
of talk, and I don't want to lose a word. Besides, Mrs. Allen would
consider it safer for me to know all that's going on."

"There, glad she's gone," said Lady Magnifico, as Mrs. Fixfax's stately
form disappeared.

"She isn't as pretty as the _new_ Miss _Fixfix_. 'Spect she's got the
toothache," suggested the talking infant, who was trying to lie and coo
on a rug, but was unable to do it.

"Well said, little Toddle; false toothache, hey?"

"Are they false, Mr. Moony? Then that was why she puckered up her lips
so funny," said Mother Hubbard; "it was to keep 'em in!"

"Yes; and take her, teeth and all, her face has about as much expression
as a platter of cold hash. I'll leave it to you if it hasn't, Prue."

"Why, there, Miss Fixfix never asked me to kiss her one time," said Fly,
with sudden astonishment.

"Reckon you'd have wanted a lump of sugar after it, Topknot."

The good-natured housekeeper shook with laughter as she listened to
these remarks from the next room.

"What a terrible creature this _Miss Fixfix_ is!" thought she. "Well, if
they've got such an idea of me, I won't try to change it. Not for the
rest of the day, at any rate. I'll keep my distance, and let 'em work."

Mother Hubbard began to look about her with the mien of a housekeeper.

"Let us see: what are we burning here?" said she, taking off a
stove-cover.