"'But,' she went on, 'you must change you dress. I will show you the way
to your room, and you will find a print gown there, which I hope you will
keep clean. And above all things don't tell lies.'

"Here Chrissy burst out laughing, as if it was such fun to be accused of
lying; but presently her eyes filled, and she made haste to go on.

"'You may be sure I made haste to put on the nice clean frock, and, to my
delight, found other clean things for me as well. I declare I felt like a
princess for a whole day after, notwithstanding the occupation. For I soon
found that I had been made over to Mrs. Sprinx, as a servant of all work.
I think she must have paid these people for the chance of reclaiming one
whom they had represented as at least a great liar. Whether my wages were
to be paid to them, or even what they were to be, I never heard. I made up
my mind at once that the best thing would be to do the work without
grumbling, and do it as well as I could, for that would be doing no harm
to anyone, but the contrary, while it would give me the better chance of
making my escape. But though I was determined to get away the first
opportunity, and was miserable when I thought how anxious you would all be
about me, yet I confess it was such a relief to be clean and in
respectable company, that I caught myself singing once or twice the very
first day. But the old lady soon stopped that. She was about in the
kitchen the greater part of the day till almost dinner-time, and taught me
how to cook and save my soul both at once.'

"'Indeed,' interrupted Uncle Peter, 'I have read receipts for the
salvation of the soul that sounded very much as if they came out of a
cookery-book.' And the wrinkles of his laugh went up into his night-cap.
Neither Chrissy nor I understood this at the time, but I have often