tearing down and
building up."

Lenora's words had no effect whatever upon her mother, who still kept
on with her plans, treating with silent contempt the remarks of the
neighbors, or wishing, perhaps, that they would attend to their own
business, just as she was attending to hers! Day after day the work
went on. Scaffoldings were raised--paper and plastering torn
off--boards were seasoning in the sun--shingles lying upon the
ground--ladders raised against the wall; and all this while the two
new graves showed not a blade of grass, and the earth looked black and
fresh as it did when first it was placed there.

When at last the blinds were hung, the house cleaned, and the carpets
nailed down, Mrs. Hamilton, who had designed it all the time, called
together the servants, whom she had disliked on account of their
preference for Margaret, and told them to look for new places, as
their services were no longer needed there.

"You can make out your bills," said she, at the same time intimating
they hadn't one of them more than earned their board, if they had
that! Polly Pepper wasn't of material to stand by and hear such
language from one whom she considered beneath her.

"Hadn't she as good a right there as anybody? Yes, indeed, she had!
Wasn't she there a full thirty year before any of your low-lived trash
came round a nussin'?"

"Polly," interposed Mrs. Hamilton, "leave the room instantly, you
ungrateful thing!"

"Ungrateful for what?" said Polly. "Haven't I worked and slaved like
an old nigger, as I am? and now you call me ungrateful, and say I
hain't arnt my bread. I'll sue you for slander;" and the enraged
Polly left the room, muttering, "half arnt my board, indeed! I'll bet
I've made a hundred thousan' pies, to say nothin' of the puddings, _I_
not arn my board!"

When again safe in what for so many years had been her own peculiar
province, she sat down to meditate. "I'd as good go without any fuss,"
thought she, "but my curse on the madam who sends me away!"

In the midst of her reverie, Lenora entered the kitchen, and to her
the old lady detailed her grievances, ending with, "Pears like she
don't know nothin' at all about etiquette, nor nothin' else."

"Etiquette!" repeated Lenora. "You are mistaken, Polly; mother would
sit on a point of etiquette till she wore the back breadth of her
dress out. But it isn't that which she lacks--it's decency. But,
Polly," said she, changing the subject, "where do you inte