'Why do you sit up I say, Netta?'
'Because Minette is so feverish; I did not like to leave her.'
The child had been called Minette by a French _bonne_, and they had all
somehow adopted it as a name; her real name was Victoria.
'You didn't sit up for me, of course?'
'Certainly not; you are not so very agreeable when you come home, as to
make me sit up for you.'
'I say, Netta, do you know I have written to invite my mother to come
and pay us a visit.'
'Your mother! then you must amuse her, for I certainly won't.'
'I beg to say you will, and will do everything in your power to make her
visit agreeable. It will be worse for you if you do not. What do you
mean by always disobeying me?'
'You had better not strike me again, you coward, you! Justine will hear
you. She can see and hear, if she can't understand.'
'I tell you what, Netta, everything may depend on our reception of my
mother--your very living, and mine, and Minette's.'
'I don't care about living; I'd rather starve than live the life I do,
and if I have Aunt 'Lizbeth, too, I shall run away, I am sure I shall.'
'With whom, madam?'
'With anybody or nobody; I don't care what becomes of me since you're so
unkind. Perhaps you'd like to see my shoulder that you hurt yesterday? I
haven't had the pleasure of seeing you since.
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