tins on the pantry shelves, that Nancy had so unaccountably mussed up.
On Saturday the inevitable explosion came:

"If you please, mum, I'm willin' to do your work, but seems to me it
don't make no difference to you whether I wear one apron or six, or
whether I hang my dish-towels on a string or on the bars, or whether I
wash goblets or kittles first; and I ain't in the habit of havin' folks
spyin' round on me. If you want me to go, I'll go; but if I stay, I want
to be let alone!"

Poor little Mrs. Gray fled to her seat in the parlor, and for the rest
of that winter she did not dare to call her soul her own; but her table
was beautifully set and served, and her house was as neat as wax.

The weeks passed and Reuben began to be restless. One day he came in
from the postoffice fairly bubbling over with excitement.

"Say, Em'ly, when folks have money they travel. Let's go somewhere!"

"Why, Reuben--where?" quavered his wife, dropping into the nearest
chair.

"Oh, I dunno," with cheerful vagueness; then, suddenly animated, "Let's
go to Boston and see the sights!"

"But, Reuben, we don't know no one there," ventured his wife doubtfully.

"Pooh! What if we don't? Hain't we got money? Can't we stay at a hotel?
Well, I guess we can!"