Bless us! how very amiable we can be when we want to make a deep impression
on someone's soft heart!
Gussie's face was now all smiles. Her words were all sweet when Mr.
Plaisted was by anyway, and as it is an ill wind that blows nobody good,
Dexie felt grateful enough for anything that would cause Gussie to be a
little better-natured than she had been during the last few weeks, and
Gussie's very unexpected offer, to "keep the parlor dusted while Plaisted
is here," touched Dexie to the heart.
But his presence made Dexie's task much harder than usual. Such a
"lie-a-bed" as he was in the mornings, and he expected to be served with a
hot breakfast whatever might be the hour of his appearance.
Nancy remembered him of old, and resented the added work, and Dexie tried
almost in vain to pour oil on the troubled waters.
One evening, when Plaisted was about to retire, Dexie handed him his lamp,
saying:
"Our breakfast hour is eight o'clock, Mr. Plaisted, and if you will rise at
the first bell you will have plenty of time to curl your hair before the
breakfast bell rings."
"Dexie, don't let your tongue run away with you," her father said,
reprovingly.
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