and waited
fairly well--she's bright enough when she wants to be.

"Doctor? Oh, she's a horse of another color. She's ten years older'n her
sister and ain't seen much of her since their parents died and Miss
Mercy went to live with her aunty, and she seems to set a good deal by
her and be puzzled by her, too. She's got a good appetite and knows good
food. I can git along with _her_ all right. But I mistrust that Nellie,
being so half baked, we'll get our trouble soon! We've a colored man
looks out for the furnace and beats the rugs and tends to the yard and
does chores; he seems a decent sort of man. I got a rise out of Nellie
'bout him, though. She was just _boiling_ and sissing when I remarked,
'You think everybody's as good as everybody else, so I expect you won't
mind having Amos set down with us.' Why, she flew into fifty pieces.
'Eat with a nigger!' she screamed.

"Of course, I was only fooling, and he was glad enough to get a good
meal in the laundry; he's a real nice, sensible man. But my lady was
off, not so much as putting the dishes in the washing machine. Marched
off with her young man, who's on strike; so he's underfoot most of the
time. That kind makes me tired!"

* * * * *

Naturally, after this conversation with Katy I agreed with my sister
that it would be interesting to call; and we planned an early day. It
was, however, even earlier than our plans.

My chamber (at my sister's house, where I was visiting) is on the side
near the Bateman house; and it happened to be I who first discovered the
smoke volleying out of the Bateman furnace chimney, followed by a
roaring spout of flame. I knew Katy had gone to our little up-town
grocery, for I had seen her on the way; and I made all haste across the
lawn, with all our ice-cream salt. The fire really was easily dealt
with. By the time the firemen arrived (summoned by Nellie), all was over
save the shouting, as they say in the political reports. Amos and Nellie
were still calling "Fire!" Katy arrived a good second to the hose cart,
breathless with running, but all her wits in good order.

"Long's you've put out the fire, Miss Patsey, I'll put out the fire
department," said she; "they're the only danger. Miss Mercy, you open
all the windows; let's git rid of the smoke. Nellie, what you carrying
your clothes out for?"

Mercedes quite won our hearts by her docility and the quiet way she
obeyed. Perhaps it was in recognition