ushed the hair back from her face, and threw open a blind.
Just then Mrs. Prime put her head in at the door; and, seeing Gertrude
alone, entered the room, but stood in astonishment on observing the
evidences of her recent laborious employment; then, glancing at the
fruits of her diligence, she burst forth indignantly, "My sakes alive!
Miss Gertrude, I believe you've been doin' up them muslins yourself,
after all!"

Gertrude smiled, but did not reply.

"Now, if that ain't too bad!" said the kind-hearted woman; "to think you
should ha' been at work down in that 'ere hot kitchen, and all the rest
on us takin' a spell o' rest in the heat of the day. I'll warrant if
Miss Emily knew it, she'd never put on that white gown!"

"It hardly looks _fit_ for her to wear," said Gertrude. "I'm not much
used to ironing, and have had a great deal of trouble with it; one side
got dry before I could smooth out the other."

"It looks elegant, Miss Gertrude; but what should you be doin' Bridget's
work for, I want to know?"

"Bridget always has enough to do," said Gertrude, evading a direct
answer; "and it's very well for me to have some practice; knowledge
never comes amiss, you know, Mrs. Prime."

"'Tant no kind of an afternoon for 'speriment o' that sort; and you
wouldn't ha' done it, I'll venture to say, if you hadn't been afeard
Miss Emily would want her things, and find out they wan't done. Times is
changed in this house, when Mr. Graham's own daughter, that was once the
head of everything, has to have her clothes laid by to make room for
other folks. Bridget ought to know better than to mind these upstarters,
when they tell her, as I heard Miss Graham yesterday, to let alone that
heap o' muslins, and attend to something that was o' more consequence.
Our Katy would ha' known better; but Bridget's a new-comer like all the
rest. Thinks I to myself then, what would Miss Gertrude say, if she
suspected how Miss Emily was bein' neglected! But I'll _tell_ Miss
Emily, as sure as my name's Prime, just how things go--you shan't get so
red in the face with ironing agin, Miss Gertrude. If the kind o' frocks
she likes to wear can't be done up at home--and yourn too, what's
more--the washin' ought to be put out. There's money enough, and some of
it ought to be spent for the use o' the ladies as is ladies! I wish to
heart _that_ Isabella would have to start round a little lively; 'twould
do her good; but, Lor', Miss Gertrude, it goes right to my