Miss Shongut slanted deeper until her slim body was a direct hypotenuse to the chair.  “Honest, mamma, it’s a shame the way you look for trouble, and the way you and papa pick on that boy.”

“Pick!  When a boy gambles the roulette and the cards and the horses until—­”

“When a boy likes cards and horses and roulette it isn’t so nice, I know, mamma; but it don’t need to mean he’s a born gambler, does it?  Boys have got to sow their wild oats.”

“Ya, ya!  Wild oats!  A boy that gambles away his last cent when he knows just the least bit of excitement his father can’t stand!  Izzy knows how it goes against his father when he plays.  Ya, ya!  I don’t need to look for trouble; I got it.  Your papa, with his heart trouble, is enough by itself.”

“Well, we’re all careful, ain’t we, mamma?  Did I even holler the other night when I thought I heard a burglar in the dining-room?”

“Ya!  How I worry about the things you should know.”  Mrs. Shongut flung wide the windows and pinned back the lace curtains, so that the spring air, cool as water, flowed in.

Her daughter sprang to her feet and drew her filmy wrapper closer about her.  “Mamma, the Solingers don’t need to look right in on us from their dining-room.”

“Say, I ’ain’t got no time to be stylish for the neighbors.  On wash-day I got my housework to do.  Honest, Renie, do you think, instead of laying round, it would hurt you to go back and make the beds awhile?  Do you think a girl like you ought to got to be told, on wash-day and with Lizzie in the laundry, to help a little with the housework?  Do you think, Renie, it’s nice?  I ask you.”

“It’s early yet, mamma; the housework will keep.”

“Early yet, she says!  On Monday, with my girl in the laundry and you with five shirtwaists in the wash, it’s early, she says!  Your mother ain’t too lazy to start now, lemme tell you.  Get them Kingston Place ideas out of your head, Renie.  Remember we don’t do nothing but look out on their fine white garages; remember business ain’t so grand with your papa, neither.”

“Now begin that, mamma!  I know it all by heart.”

“I ain’t beginning nothing, Renie; but, believe me, it ain’t so nice for a girl to have to be told everything.  How that little Jeannie Lissman, next door, helps her mother already, it’s a pleasure to see.  I—­”

“You’ve told me about her before, mamma.”

Mrs. Shongut flung a sheet across the upright piano.

“Gimme the broom, mamma.  I’ll sweep.”

“Sweep I never said you need to do.  It’s bad enough I got to spoil my hands.  Go back and wake Izzy up and make the beds.”

“Aw, mamma, let him sleep.  He don’t have to be down until nine.”

“Nine o’clock nowadays young men have got to work!  Up to five years ago every morning at dark your papa was down-town to see the poultry come in, and now at eight o’clock my son can’t be woke up to go to work.  Honest, I tell you times is changed!”