served in an undusted room, and now nearly an hour and a half later the dishes were still unfinished. Something rose up in me and I denied it not. I hastened to the breakfast room. Charlotte was putting away a tray of glasses. Hitherto I had quailed before her air of ingenuous industry, but at last the spirit of my ancestors was roused.
"Charlotte," I said firmly, "you mustn't linger like this. It is nearly ten o'clock, and time you were at other work. These dishes should have been out of the way long ago."
Charlotte raised a face to me speechless with astonishment.
"You know," I went on, "there is a good deal to be done this spring. Housecleaning is nearly due. We can't afford to be slack with the ordinary work."
"I've done me best, ma'am," Charlotte found voice to reply stiffly.
"No, Charlotte, you have not. I'm sorry to say it. I'm sorry to see it. You are not the girl you were when you came to me. Things have begun to run down all over the house. You are running down, Charlotte, that is the real trouble. I feel it my duty to tell you so, and to say that I cannot have things going on
