"If I could leave it I shouldn't be here for a minute.
Since I can't, it simply has to be cleaned. I can tolerate
men and dogs when I am compelled to, but I cannot and will not
tolerate dirt and disorder. Go into the sitting-room."
Alexander Abraham went. As he closed the door, I heard him say,
in capitals, "WHAT AN AWFUL WOMAN!"
I cleared that kitchen and the pantry adjoining.
It was ten o'clock when I got through, and Alexander Abraham
had gone to bed without deigning further speech. I locked
Mr. Riley in one room and William Adolphus in another and went
to bed, too. I had never felt so dead tired in my life before.
It had been a hard day.
But I got up bright and early the next morning and got a
tiptop breakfast, which Alexander Abraham condescended to eat.
When the provision man came into the yard I called to him
from the window to bring me a box of soap in the afternoon,
and then I tackled the sitting-room.
It took me the best part of a week to get that house in order,
but I did it thoroughly. I am noted for doing things thoroughly.
At the end of the time it was clean from garret to cellar.
Alexander Abraham made no comments on my operations, though he
groaned loud and often, and said caustic things to poor Mr.
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