"Tell mamma I will be there in a few minutes. I am almost through packing,
and if I were you, Gussie, I would go at once and see if that Robinson girl
will come and stay with you till the new cook arrives; and do have a care
how you speak to her, for mamma's sake. Do not imagine that something will
happen to prevent me going away, for that is a settled fact!"
Gussie hastened back to her mother in alarm.
"She is really going, mamma, and says she won't come out of her room until
she gets her trunk packed. Oh! what shall we do with no one in the house to
do a thing for us! I did not mean to vex her when I spoke to her as I did,"
bursting into tears.
"So it is your fault that, she is going! Are my troubles not heavy enough
that you drive the only help I have away from me? What will become of us if
Dexie leaves us, for you are as useless as you are extravagant!" And the
mother scolded and complained as if Gussie alone were responsible for the
trouble. "Go at once and make some amends for your ill-tempered words," she
added, "and perhaps Dexie will overlook it, for my sake."
Gussie returned to the closed door, and in contrite tones begged for
admittance.
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