and if ye don't like the way I do, there is plenty of other ladies
would be glad t' get me."

"But we do like the way you do," said Mrs. Fenelby eagerly. "We are
perfectly satisfied--perfectly!"

"From th' way ye started off," said Bridget, with a shrug of her
shoulders, "I thought ye was goin' t' give me th' bounce. Some does
it that way."

"No, indeed," Mrs. Fenelby assured her. "Especially not as you take
such an interest in dear little Bobberts. You seem to like him as
well as if he was your own little brother. Did I tell you what Mr.
Fenelby had planned for him?"

"Somethin' t' make more worrk for me, is it?" asked Bridget
suspiciously.

"Not at all!" said Mrs. Fenelby. "It is just about his education;
about when he gets old enough to go to college."

"'Twill be a long time from now before then," said Bridget. "I can
see it has nawthin' to do with me."

"But that is just it," said Mrs. Fenelby. "It has something to do
with you--and with all of us. With everyone in this house. You love
little Bobberts so much that you will be glad to help in his
education."

"Will I?" said Bridget in a way that was not too encouraging.

"Yes, I know you will," Mrs. Fenelby chirped cheerfully, "because it
is the cutest plan. I know you will be so interested in it. Mr.
Fenelby thought of it himself, and he told me to tell you about it,
because, really, you know, you are just like one of the family--"

"Barring I have t' be in at ten o'clock and have t' sleep in th'
attic," Bridget interposed. "And don't eat with th' family. And a
few other differences. But go ahead and tell me what is th' extry
worrk."

"Well, it isn't extra work at all," said Mrs. Fenelby reassuringly.
"It is just a way we thought of to raise money to pay for Bobberts'
education. It is like a government and taxes, and everybody in the
family pays part of the taxes--"

"I was wonderin' why I was one of the family so much, all of a
suddent," said Bridget. "I thought something was comin'. I notice
that whenever I get to be one of th' family, ma'am, where ever I
happen t' be workin', something comes. But it never has been taxes
before. It is a new one to me, taxes is."

Mrs. Fenelby explained as clearly as she could the meaning and
method of the Fenelby Domestic Tariff, and its simple schedule of
rates, and Bridget listened attentively. Mrs. Fenelby expected an
explosion, and was prepared for it.

"I'm sure I'm much obliged t' ye, Missus Fenelby," sa