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Book, page 72 / 171 years, an' I guess they'll last the night through." And he marched solemnly upstairs to the big east chamber, meekly followed by his wife. It was the next morning when Mrs. Gray was washing the breakfast dishes that her husband came in at the kitchen door and stood looking thoughtfully at her. "Say, Emily," said he, "you'd oughter have a hired girl. 'T ain't your place to be doin' work like this now." Mrs. Gray gasped--half terrified, half pleased--and shook her head; but her husband was not to be silenced. "Well, you had--an' you've got to, too. An' you must buy some new clothes--lots of 'em! Why, Em'ly, we've got heaps of money now, an' we hadn't oughter wear such lookin' things." Emily nodded; she had thought of this before. And the hired-girl hint must have found a warm spot in her heart in which to grow, for that very afternoon she sallied forth, intent on a visit to her counselor on all occasions--the doctor's wife. "Well, Mis' Steele, I don't know what to do. Reuben says I ought to have a hired girl; but I hain't no more idea where to get one than anything, an' I don't know's I want one, if I did." And Mrs. Gray sat back in her chair and rocked violently to and fro, eying her hostess with the evident consciousness of having presented a poser. That resourceful woman, however, was far from being nonplussed; she beamed upon her visitor with a joyful smile. "Just the thing, my dear Mrs. Gray! You know I am to go South with May for the winter. The house will be closed and the doctor at the hotel. I had just been wondering what to do with Nancy, for I want her again in the spring. Now, you can have her until then, and by that time you will know how you like the idea of keeping a girl. She is a perfect treasure, capable of carrying along the entire work of the household, only"--and Mrs. Steele paused long enough to look doubtfully at her friend--"she is a little independent, and won't stand much interference."
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