watch and pray when I am asleep? Isn't that so, Miss Prossy?

PROSERPINE (sharply). Miss Garnett, if you please.

LEXY. I beg your pardon--Miss Garnett.

PROSERPINE. You've got to do all the work to-day.

LEXY. Why?

PROSERPINE. Never mind why. It will do you good to earn your
supper before you eat it, for once in a way, as I do. Come: don't
dawdle. You should have been off on your rounds half an hour ago.

LEXY (perplexed). Is she in earnest, Morell?

MORELL (in the highest spirits--his eyes dancing). Yes. _I_ am
going to dawdle to-day.

LEXY. You! You don't know how.

MORELL (heartily). Ha! ha! Don't I? I'm going to have this day
all to myself--or at least the forenoon. My wife's coming back:
she's due here at 11.45.

LEXY (surprised). Coming back already--with the children? I
thought they were to stay to the end of the month.

MORELL. So they are: she's only coming up for two days, to get
some flannel things for Jimmy, and to see how we're getting on