Part 18 (1/2)
”Sabrina Rogers would do it, I dare say,” Matilda went on; ”and maybe that would be something good for her.”
”Teach her to clean her own?” said Norton.
”Why no, Norton; her own is clean. I meant, maybe she would be glad of the pay.”
”There's another princess, eh, that wants a palace?” said Norton. ”If we could, we would new build Lilac Lane, wouldn't we? But then, I should want to make over the people that live in it.”
”So should I, and that is the hardest. But perhaps, don't you think the people _would_ be different, if they had things different?”
”I'm certain I should be different, if I lived where they do,” said Norton. ”But go on, Pink; let us try it on--what's her name. We have only cleaned her house yet.”
”The first thing, then, is a bedstead, Norton.”
”A bedstead! What does she sleep on?”
”On the floor; with rags and straw, and I think a miserable make-believe of a bed. No sheets, no blankets, nor anything. It is dreadful.”
”Rags and straw,” said Norton. ”Then a bedstead wants a bed on it, Pink; and blankets or coverlets or something, and sheets, and all that.”
Matilda watched Norton's pencil as it noted the articles.
”Then she wants some towels, and a basin of some sort to wash in.”
”H'm!” said Norton. ”Herself, I hope?”
”Yes, I hope so. But she has nothing to make herself clean with.”
”Then a stand, and basin, and towels; and a pitcher, Pink, I suppose, to hold water.”
”Yes, a pitcher, or jug, or something. We want to get the cheapest things we can. And soap.”
”Let's have plenty of that,” said Norton, putting down soap. ”Now then--what next?”
”A little wooden table, Norton; she has nothing but a chair to set her tea on.”
”A table. And a carpet?”
”Oh, no, Norton; that's not necessary. It is warm weather now. She does not want that. But she _does_ want a pail for water. I have to take the tea-kettle to the pump.”
Norton at this laughed, and rolled over on the gra.s.s in his amus.e.m.e.nt.
Having thus refreshed himself, he came back to business.
”Has she got anything to go on her fire, except a tea-kettle?”
”Not much. A saucepan would be a very useful thing, and not cost much.
I bought one the other day; so I know.”
”What's a saucepan?” said Norton. ”A pan to make sauce in?”