Page:Pratt portraits - sketched in a New England suburb (IA prattportraitssk00full).pdf/78

 "A what?"

"A housekeeper."

"Engaged a housekeeper? Why, Anson, what do you mean!"

"I mean exactly what I say. I've engaged the woman Sister Harriet was telling us about. She's coming to-morrow afternoon."

"Coming here, to keep house for you? To take my place?"

"She's coming here to keep this house." Emmeline had grown very white.

"Why have you taken such a step without consulting me?"

"Because I was sure you would object, and I didn't want any discussion."

"But, Anson, what do you want of a housekeeper?"

"What most folks want of a housekeeper. To have the house kept." Anson was desperately afraid that his wife would persuade him to abandon his plan, and before she could interpose he had armed himself from top to toe in his grievances.

"I have borne a great deal, Emmeline. I've lived for seven years without any of the comforts ofa home. There isn't aman in Dunbridge who has had so much to put up with as I. And I've made up my mind that I'm not going to stand it another day. I'm going to try for once what it is like to have a clean house and whole clothes and something fit to eat."