16 THE SILVER LAKE’ STORIES.

work, making exclamations like these:
‘Fine times we shall have, to be sure!
Grand doings! I suppose those who
have served and slaved will be turned
off, now!’ At last, on her giving me a
very snappish answer, I said, ‘ Why
Jane, how cross you are to-day!’

“*Cross, am I?’ said she; ‘I guess,
before long, you will find that there’s
Some one crosser than me!’

“*Who will that be, I should like to
know ?’ said I.

“* Well, if you’d like to know, I will
tell you,’ said Jane; ‘it’s a step-mother!’

“A step-mother, Jane! are we going
to have a step-mother ?