“I can’t wait for that!” exclaimed Phoebe; “I’s got to have money to carry on the house.”

“Whar’s the money the preacher pays you?” asked her husband.

“Dat’s a comin’,” said Phoebe, “dat’s a comin’ all right.  Thar’s to be a special c’lection next Sunday mornin’, and the money’s goin’ to pay the minister’s board.  I’m to git every cent what’s owin’ to me, and I reckon it’ll take it all.”

“He ain’t paid you nuthin’ yit, thin?”

“Not yit; there was another special c’lection had to be tuk up fust, but the next one’s for me.  Can’t you go ask your boss for five dollars?”

“Oh, yes,” said Mike, “he’ll give it to me if I ask him.  Look here, Phoebe, we might’s well git all the good we kin out of five dollars, and I reckon I’ll come to chu’ch next Sunday, and put the five dollars in the c’lection.  I’ll git the credit of givin’ a big lot of money, and that’ll set me up a long time wid the congregation, and you git the five dollars all the same.”

“Mike,” said Phoebe, solemnly, “don’t you go and do dat; mind, I tell you, don’t you do dat.  You give me them five dollars, and jes’ let that c’lection alone.  No use you wearin’ youself out a walkin’ to chu’ch, and all the feedin’ and milkin’ to do besides.”

Mike laughed.  “I reckon you think five dollars in th’ pahm of th’ hand is better than a whole c’lection in the bush.  I’ll see th’ boss before you go, and if he’s got the money, he’ll let me have it.”

Satisfied on this point, Phoebe now declared that she must go and deliver her letter; but she first inquired how her husband was getting on, and how he was treated by Molly Tooney.

“I ain’t got no use for that woman;” and he proceeded to tell his wife of the insult that had been passed on his crops.

“That’s brazen impidence,” said Phoebe, “and jes’ like her.  But look here, Mike, don’t you quarrel with the cook.  No matter what happens, don’t you quarrel with the cook.”

“I ain’t goin’ to quarrel with nobody,” said Mike; “but if that Molly ’spects me to grease her wagon wheels for her, she’s got hold of the wrong man.  If she likes green wood for the kitchen fire, and fotchin’ it mos’ times for herself, that’s her business, not mine.”

“If you do that, Mike, she’ll leave,” said Phoebe.

Mike gave himself a general shrug.

“She can’t leave,” said he, “till Miss Panney tells her she kin.”

Phoebe laughed and rose.

“Reckon I’ll go in and see Miss Miriam,” she said, “and while I’m doin’ that you’d better ask the boss about the money.”

Having delivered the letter, and having, with much suavity, inquired into the health and general condition of the Cobhurst family since she had walked off and left it to its own resources, and having given Miriam various points of information in regard to the Bannister and the Tolbridge families, Phoebe gracefully took leave of the young mistress of the house and proceeded to call upon the cook.