ink
best," retorted Clo, "so yer needn't go a meddlin' wid my dumplin', Miss
Vic, 'cause yer'll git yer fingers burnt if yer does."

"Don't wanter meddle wid nothin' that recerns you," cried Vic, jumping
at the prospect of a quarrel, since there was nothing to be gained by
amicable words.

"Jis' give me any of yer sarse," said Clo, "and I'll mark yer face smash
wid dis ere dough, now I tells ye?"

"Don't lay a finger on me, cause I won't stand it," shrieked Vic; "yer a
cross ole, ole--dat's what's de matter."

"Go 'long 'bout yer business," shouted Clo, shaking her rolling-pin in a
threatening rage. "Dis ere's de housekeeper's room, an' yer hain't no
business here."

"Much business as you has, I guess; yer ain't housekeeper as I knows on;
yer only potwasher anyhow."

"Missus telled me to use dis room for makin' pies and cakes in till she
got anoder housekeeper, an' I'se gwine ter."

"I don't keer if she did, dat don't make yer housekeeper any more'n
stolen feathers makes a jackdaw an eagle."

"Now, ladies, ladies!" pleaded Dolf, fearful of the extent to which the
tempest might reach if not checked in time. "Don't let us conflusticate
dese little seasons of union by savagerousnesses; don't, I beg."

"Den her leave me alone," sniffled Vic.

"Larn dat gal ter keep a civil tongue in her yaller head if yer want
peace an' composion," said Clo.

"Dat ar's religion wid a vengeance," cried Vic; "a callin' names is
pretty piety, ain't it! I'll jis' see what Elder Brown says ter dat ar
de bery next time I sees him."

"Oh, yes!" said Clo, contemptuous; "yer allers glad ob a 'casion ter
gabble! How's a pusson gwine ter hab religion when dey's persecuted by
sich a born debil; wurs 'en dem in de scripture as was worrying de
swine."

"Laws!" said Vic, with a vicious sneer, "was yer roun wid dat drove
'bout dat time."

"I'll drove yer," cried Clo.

But Dolf interposed again, and luckily Clo's nostrils detected the odor
of burning pie-crust, and she rushed into the kitchen to see if the girl
had allowed her pastry to burn.

Dolf took that opportunity to soothe the angry Victoria, and succeeded
admirably.

"Now, Miss Clorindy," said Dolf, when she had relieved her feelings by
abusing Sally for her carelessness about the pies, and was once more
tranquilly occupied with her work; "now, Miss Clorindy, jis' glorify us
wid yer 'pinion 'bout de 'fairs ob dis dwellin' which we has all noticed
is more mysteriouser dan is p