Who's a-coming to help you?"
"Nobody."
"Nobody! you poor chicken; do you think you're a-going to do
all the work of the house yourself?"
"No," said Ellen, "but I can do a good deal, and the rest will
have to go."
"You ain't going to do no such thing; I'll stay myself."
"No, you can't, Nancy," said Ellen, quietly.
"I guess I will, if I've a mind to. I should like to know how
you'd help it: Miss Fortune's a-bed."
"I could help it, though," said Ellen; "but I am sure you
won't, when I ask you not."
"I'll do anything you please," said Nancy, "if you'll get Miss
Fortune to let me stay. Come do, Ellen! It will be splendid!
and I'll help you finely, and I won't bother you neither.
Come, go ask her; if you don't, I will."
"I can't, Nancy; she don't want anybody; and it worries her to
talk to her. I can't go and ask her."
Nancy impatiently flung down the cloth she was sprinkling, and
ran up stairs. In a few minutes she came down with a
triumphant face, and bade Ellen go up to her aunt.
"Ellen," said Miss Fortune, "if I let Nancy stay will you take
care of the keys, and keep her out of the buttery?"
"I'll try to, Ma'am, as well as I can."
"I'd as lief have her as anybody," said Miss Fortune, "if
she'd behave. She was with me a little in the winter. She is
smart, and knows the ways. If I was sure she would behave
herself — but I am afraid she will go rampaging about the
house like a wild cat.
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