Page:Stories told to a child.djvu/195

 are to be pitied, certainly,' he said, 'and if I were not in such a hurry'—

'O, do go on, pray—were you going to say you could help me? I've heard that your people are fond of curds and whey, and fresh gooseberry syllabub. Now, if you would help me, trust me that there should be the most beautiful curds and whey set every night for you on the hearth; and nobody should ever look when you went and came.'

'Why, you see,' said the cobbler, hesitating, 'my people are extremely particular about—in short, about—cleanliness, mistress; and your house is not what one would call very clean. No offence, I hope?'

Bella blushed deeply. 'Well, but it should be always clean if you would every day of my life I would wash the floor, and sand it, and the hearth should be whitewashed as white as snow, and the windows cleaned.'

'Well,' said the cobbler, seeming to consider, 'well, then, I should not wonder if I could meet with a one-eyed servant for you, like your neighbor's; but it may be several days before I can; and mind, mistress, I'm to have a dish of curds.'

'Yes, and some whipped cream, too,' replied Bella, full of joy.

The cobbler then took up all his tools, wrapped them in his leather apron, walked behind the wallflower, and disappeared.

Bella was so delighted, she could not sleep that night for joy. Her husband scarcely knew the house, she had made it so bright and clean; and by night she had washed the curtain, cleaned the window, Rh