But it was, nevertheless, with native dignity that she greeted her
guest and set her a chair, not allowing herself to be put out by the
rather fastidious way in which Desire held up her skirts.

"Sid down," said Elnathan "an be kinder neighborly. She wants to see
Perez, mother. I dunno what baout, I'm sure. Ef he's a milkin naow I
s'pose I kin spell him so's he kin come in an see what she's a wantin
of him," and the old man shuffled out the back door.

Desire sat down, calm and composed outwardly, but tingling in every
particle of her body with a revulsion of taste at the vulgarity of the
atmosphere, which almost amounted to nausea. But it may be doubted if
her dainty attire, her air of distinction, and the refined delicacy of
her flower-like face, had ever appeared to more advantage than as she
sat, inwardly fuming, on that rude chair, in that rude room, amid its
more or less clownish inmates. Prudence was very red in the face, and
confused. As housemaid in Mr. Woodbridge's family, she knew Desire
well, and felt a certain sort of responsibility for her on that
account. She did not know whether she ought to go and speak to her
now, though Desire took no notice of her. Reuben also had risen from
his chair as she came in, and still stood awkwardly leaning on the
back of it, not seeming sure if he ought to sit down again or not.
Fennell, too sick to care, was the only self-possessed person in the
room. It was a relief to all when the noise of feet at the door
indicated the return of Elnathan with Perez, but the running
explanations of the former which his senile treble made quite audible
through the door, were less reassuring.

"Can't make aout what in time she wants on ye. Mebbe she's tuk a shine
to ye, he, he, I dunno. Ye uster be allers arter her when ye wuz a