CHAPTER XII. THE FADED-OUT LADY
Janice was not as much surprised--at first as her father was bythe appearance of the spinster and Mrs. Watkins. She rememberedthat Miss Peckham had said she would call this evening, althoughthe girl had not expected her at the back door.
Their neighbor had managed to time her appearance at a ratherinopportune moment, and when daddy rose up from behind the stoveto confront the two women, in a voluminous apron and with asmutch across his cheek, Janice could not entirely smother heramusement.
"Oh! Oh!" she giggled. "Good evening, Miss Peckham! This--thisis Mrs. Watkins, Daddy," and she directed her father's attentionto the faded-out lady. "Ahem! I am glad to see you, MissPeckham--and Mrs. Watkins," Mr. Day said, bowing in that nice wayof his that Janice so much admired. Even with a blacking brushin one hand and a can of stove polish in the other, Mr. BroxtonDay was very much the gentleman.
"You find us considerably engaged in domestic work," continuedMr. Day, a smile wreathing his lips and his eyes twinkling. "Andif you don't mind, I'll finish my job before giving you my fullattention. Janice, take
Miss Peckham and her friend into the living room."
"Oh, no. You needn't bother," said Miss Peckham shortly."Here's chairs, and we can sit down. It's interesting to watch aman try to do housework, I've no doubt."
"You said something then, Miss Peckham," said Mr. Day,cheerfully, and began industriously daubing the stove covers.
"I brought Mrs. Watkins in here to see you, Mr. Day, 'cause I gotyour welfare and hers at heart," pursued the spinster.
That sounded rather ominous, and Mr. Day poised the dauber andstared doubtfully from his neighbor to the washed-out lookingwoman.
"Mrs. Watkins is a widow," went on Miss Peckham.
Mr. Day made a sympathetic sound with his lips, but fell topolishing now, making the stove covers rattle. Miss Peckhamraised her voice a notch. "She's a widow, and she's seentrouble."
"We're born to it--as the sparks fly upward," observedMr. Day, under his breath.
"Mrs. Watkins has come to an age when nobody can say she'sflighty, I sh'd hope," continued Miss Peckham. "She's settled.And she's got to earn her livin'."
"Now, Marthy!" objected Mrs. Watkins.
"Well, 'tis so, Sophrony, ain't it?" demanded her friend.
"Oh, of course, expenses are heavy, and it's desirable that Ishould--should--well, add to my income. But I've come to nogreat age, Marthy Peckham, I'd have you know!"
"Oh, bosh, Sophrony!" ejaculated Miss Peckham. "Well, as I say,Mr. Day, Mrs. Watkins is a widow, and she needs a settled place."
"Just what are you trying to get at, Miss Peckham? I don'tunderstand you," asked Mr. Day, his face actually getting ratherpale.
Neither did Janice understand; but her father looked so funnythat the girl giggled again. Miss Peckham gave her a reprovingglance.
"I sh'd think you'd understand your need well enough, BroxtonDay," she said sternly. "First of all that gal ought to belearned manners. But that's incidental, as you might say. WhatI am tellin' you is, that here's your chance to get a housekeeperthat'll amount to something."
"Oh! Ah! I see!" exclaimed Mr. Day in staccato fashion, andevidently very much relieved. "Mrs. Watkins is looking for aposition?"
"Well, she ought to be. But it does take a stick of dynamite toget her goin', seems to me. Speak up, Sophrony!"
"Why, I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Day," said the faded-out lady,simpering. "I've been considerin' acceptin' a position such asyou have. Of course, I ain't used to working out--"
"Oh, fiddlesticks? put in Miss Peckham, "He don't care nothin'about that, Sophrony. He can see you ain't no common servant."
"Assuredly I can see that, Mrs. Watkins," said Mr. Day, suavely."But do you think you would care to accept such a position as Ican offer you?"
"I should be pleased to try it," said Mrs. Watkins, with a sigh."Of course, it would be a comedown for me--"
"Land's sake, Sophrony!" ejaculated her friend, "with me tosponsor you, I don't guess anybody in this neighborhood willundertake to criticize."
"Wait a moment," said Mr. Day, and Janice was delighted to seethat he was not entirely carried off his feet. "Let us understandeach other. I pay so much a month," naming a fair sum, "and Iexpect the cooking and all the housework except the heavy washingdone by whoever takes the place."
"Well, now, Mr. Day," began Mrs. Watkins, "you see, I shouldn'texpect to be treated just like an ordinary servant. Oh, no."
"That's what I tell her," snorted Miss Peckham.
"Folks that have had the off-scourings of the earth, like youhave had, Broxton Day, in your kitchen, ain't used to havinglady-help about the house."
"I hope Janice and I will appreciate Mrs. Watkins' efforts, ifshe wishes to try the place," Mr. Day said, in rather abewildered tone.
"That gal herself can do a good deal I sh'd think, morning andnight. She ain't helpless," said Miss Peckham, staring atJanice.
"Janice has her school work to do," said Mr. Day firmly. "Shetakes care of her own room and does other little things. Butunless Mrs. Watkins wishes to undertake the full responsibilityof the housework it would be useless for her to come."
He was firm on that point. The faded-out lady smiled feebly. "Iam always willing to do as far as I can," she sighed. "The workfor three people can't be so much. I am perfectly willing totry, Mr. Day. I'm sure nothin' could be fairer than that."
Daddy and Janice looked at each other for an instant. It flashedthrough both their minds that the faded-out lady did not soundvery encouraging. Later when the two had gone, daddy put awaythe blacklug tools, saying:
"Well, it will be a new experience, Janice. She is differentfrom anybody we have ever had before."
"Oh, Daddy! I think she's funny," gasped the girl.
He smiled at her broadly, shaking his head. "I presume she doesseem funny to you. But at least she is a ladylike person. Wemust treat her nicely."
"Why, as though we wouldn't!" gasped Janice.
"But don't offend her by showing her you are amused," warned herfather. "That may be hard, for it does strike me that Mrs.Sophronia Watkins is a character, and no mistake."
"I wouldn't hurt her feelings for the world," declared Janice."But, Daddy, do you suppose it is rouge she has on her face? Anddoes she use a lipstick?"
"For goodness' sake! Where did you hear about such things?" helaughed.
"Why, of course I know something about most everything," declaredJanice, quite confidently. "And her face doesn't look justnatural."
"Don't get too curious, Janice," he said laughing. "If she cancook and keep the house clean, as far as I am concerned she canpaint herself like a Piute chief."
One shock, however, Mr. Broxton Day was not exactly prepared for.Mrs. Watkins came to the house the next day for a latebreakfast--which she got herself, Janice and her father havingalready cooked their own and eaten it.
"I haven't been used to getting up very early," confessed thewoman, preening a bit. "But, of course, I shall change mybreakfast hour to conform with yours."
"I hope so," said Broxton Day, hurrying away to business.
He got the shock mentioned at night when he came to the dinnertable. The table was very neatly set; but there were threeplaces. The meal was not elaborate but the food seemed to becooked all right. Mrs. Watkins brought in the dishes and thensat down with Mr. Day and Janice to eat.
Janice did not look at daddy, but her own face was rather red andshe was uncomfortable.
"Your daughter," said Mrs. Watkins severely, informs me that youhave not been in the habit of having anybody at your table atmeal time but your two selves. Of course, I could only engage toassist you here with the understanding that I am to be consideredone of the family."
"Why--er--yes; that will be all right," Janice's father said,though a bit doubtfully. "It would scarcely do to consider you,Mrs. Watkins, in the same category as the ordinary help Janiceand I have had."
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"I am glad you see it that way," said the faded-out lady. Andshe was quite colorless at the moment. It was evident that therouge and lip-stick were used only on important occasions.
"I am glad you see it that way," she repeated. "I could considerno let-down as a lady, in accepting any position. Manual laboris no shame; but one must be true to one's upbringing."
"Quite so, Mrs. Watkins--quite so," agreed Mr. Day.
"Janice, child," said the woman quickly, "run out to the kitchenand get the rest of the potatoes. And see if the coffee isready."
Her tone rather startled Janice; but she did as she was bade andthat without even a glance at daddy.
"I never consider I have had a real dinner," Mrs. Watkinscontinued, "unless I have a bit of good cheese with it. I findnone in the house, Mr. Day. Indeed," she added, "your pantrysadly needs stocking up."
"Why--er--that may be so. We have been living a good deal'catch-as-catch-can,'" and he smiled upon her. "Give Janice alist of the things you need, and she will go to Harriman's foryou in the morning."
"No. I prefer to do my own marketing, always. A child likeJanice--thank you Janice, for the potatoes-- can scarcely beexpected to use judgment in the selection of provisions. Youmight telephone to the stores where you are in the habit oftrading and inform them that I have charge of your household now.They will then expect me."
"Oh, well! All right," he said, but doubtfully.
"I have not yet brought my bag from Marthy's, next door. I willgo after it when dinner is over, while Janice clears the table.I will send for my trunk, which is at Marietteville, later."
"Suit yourself, Mrs. Watkins," said Mr. Day.
"Have you any choice as to which of the two empty bedrooms Iconsider mine?" the woman asked, heaping her plate a second timewith food.
"What's that?" asked Mr. Day, rather non-plussed.
"Which chamber shall I sleep in?" she repeated, quite calmly.
"Why--I-- Really, Mrs. Watkins, isn't the small room beyondJanice's quite sufficient for you?" he asked, a little colorcoming into his face now.
"Oh, my dear Mr. Day! I could not consider that for a moment.Why, that is the girl's room--merely a bedroom for the hiredhelp. I could not possibly consider myself in the same class--"
"Except on pay-day, Mrs. Watkins?" asked the man bluntly. "Weare glad to have you with us, of course; and we will consideryour quite different status in the family, as you demand. But--"
"No, Mr. Day," Mrs. Watkins said with decision, interrupting him."I could not contemplate for a moment occupying the girl's room.Why you might want it again any time."
"Not while you are with us," said Mr. Day wonderingly. "I do notthink I could afford to have two helpers."
"It does not matter," said the faded-out lady stubbornly."Janice, get the coffee now. It does not matter. I refusepositively to sleep in that little, poked-up room. I prefer mywindows opening to the east."
"But the east room is the one Mrs. Day always used," said theman, with sudden hoarseness. "I cannot allow you to use thatone. The spare chamber on the other side of the hall, if youinsist."
"Very well," said the woman with a small toss of her head. "Willyou have a cup of coffee, Mr. Day?"
"No, Mrs. Watkins. I prefer a cup of tea at dinner time. A NewEngland habit that has clung to me."
"Indeed? Janice, go and make your father a cup of tea, that's agood child."
"Never mind, Janice," said daddy quickly. "I do not wish it now.And, Mrs. Watkins."
"Yes, Mr. Day?" simpered the faded-out lady.
"I wish it distinctly understood that Janice is to give hercomplete attention to her school work between dinner and bedtime,unless she should chance to have more freedom during those hoursthan is usual. She will assist you as you may have need afterschool, and even in the morning before she goes to school. Butthe hours after dinner are for her school work. Do you quiteunderstand me, Mrs. Watkins?"
Mrs. Watkins' pale, wrinkled face did not color in the least, nordid the washed-out brown eyes change their expression. But therewas an added sharpness to the woman's voice:
"You object to Janice's giving me a hand with the lighter tasks,Mr. Day?" she queried.
"Not at all. But her education must not be neglected."
"Ah! I quite understand," sniffed Mrs. Watkins. "You object tomy going out this evening then? But I really must have my bagwith my toilet requisites."
"I have no wish to restrict your use of the evening, as long asyour work is done," said Mr. Day, rising from the table. "Come,Janice, it is time you were at your books."
He led the way into the living room. Mrs. Watkins gave a violentsniff at their departure. Then she finished her coffee.