COMMUTER'S WIFE 145 



She was evidently aggrieved because father had 

 not confided to her the precise date of our home- 

 coming. She wished to have been present to wel- 

 come us, after having vigorously upset the house 

 from garret to cellar in the historic name of house- 

 cleaning; and this topic furnished the opening text 

 for the discourse. 



" I'm sorry, very sorry, Barbara, that the fall 

 cleaning was not done before you came, and with 

 your father here alone for almost two months, every- 

 thing must be in a shocking condition. When do 

 you begin? I suppose you intend to have it over 

 before Thanksgiving ? " 



" I'm not going to begin, Aunt Lot." 



"Are you putting it off until spring? I think 

 that's a risk." 



" No, forever. Every room has its day for weekly 

 cleaning, and there will be no need for an up- 

 set, as if we were fumigating after a contagious 

 disease." 



" Humph ! and be sweeping and dusting all the 

 time ! You'll never manage it in the world, but I 

 suppose that is one of your new English ideas." 



" No, simply common sense, like taking a bath 

 every morning, though I believe that there may still 

 be people who prefer to save up and take a semi- 



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