Page:Behind the scenes, or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House.djvu/225

Rh ever here before. She came in an open carriage, with a black woman for an attendant."

"It may be the wife of one of Johnson's new secretaries. Do go down, Mrs. Keckley," exclaimed my work-girls in a chorus. I went below, and on entering the parlor, a plainly dressed lady rose to her feet, and asked: "Is this the dressmaker?" "Yes, I am a dressmaker." "Mrs. Keckley?" "Yes." "Mrs. Lincoln's former dressmaker, were you not?" "Yes, I worked for Mrs. Lincoln." "Are you very busy now?" "Very, indeed." "Can you do anything for me?" "That depends upon what is to be done, and when it is to be done." "Well, say one dress now, and several others a few weeks later."