Sukie 



so long, that she was reckless with indiffer- 

 ence as to her future, and would have 

 gone to keep house for old Harry, I believe, 

 had he been first to invite her ! 



My Father was greatly affected when the 

 time came for bidding Sukie good-bye, so, 

 too, was my Mother ; though she did a 

 little scolding through her tears, and gave 

 her to understand that if anything dreadful 

 happened either to us or to her, there 

 would be only Susan to blame for the 

 desertion. And Mary said, " Remember, 

 Sukie, if you are ever in any trouble, or if 

 you feel unhappy, you will always find a 

 home with us." 



'' Yes, Miss Mary, and thank you 

 dearly ; and I do hope as the new girl'll 

 keep Mr. Hyde's boots nice, and don't 

 you let your father and mother fret ; you 

 and me both knows their ways, and their 

 wants, don't we ? " and so on and on, in 

 her excitement, chattered the good old 

 soul, who had never before in all her life 

 done so much talking. 



And then for the last time she took 

 Mary round the kitchen, showing her 

 where every box and jar and platter might 

 be found as she had left it in her exquisite 

 orderly fashion. When she came to the 

 many-shelved dresser, gay with our own 

 204 



