"I'd have to say that she was the person that had the
right to slap your head if you didn't do what she told you."
"I'd have to say that she was the woman that could keep you slaving
at kitchen maid's work fifteen hours a day," said Mrs. Blayne;
"My mother was cook in a big house and trained me under her."
"I never had one," said Andrews stiffly. The truth was that she
had taken care of eight infant brothers and sisters, while her
maternal parent slept raucously under the influence of beer when
she was not quarrelling with her offspring.
Jane, the housemaid, had passed a not uncomfortable childhood in
the country and was perhaps of a soft nature.
"I'd say that a mother's the one that you belong to and that's
fond of you, even if she does keep you straight," she put in.
"Her mother isn't fond of her and doesn't keep herself straight,"
said Jennings. "So that wouldn't do."
"And she doesn't slap her head or teach her to do kitchen maid's
work," put in Mrs. Blayne, "so yours is no use, Mr. Jennings, and
neither is mine. Miss Andrews 'll have to cook up an explanation
of her own herself when she finds she has to."
"She can get it out of a Drury Lane melodrama," said Jennings, with
great humour. "You'll have to sit down some night, Miss Andrews,
and say, 'The time has come, me chee-ild, when I must tell you
All'."
In this manner were Mrs.
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