From time to time, while they waited for the master of the
house, they cast nervous, apprehensive looks in the direction of the
door through which they had entered the room. Their apprehensions
apparently were justified by the abrupt arrival upon the scene of
Wright and Quinlan, the other nurse-maids, both of whom were hot and
flushed and still in a state of frowsy preparation for a journey. They
too had their suitcases and bundles and they too were trying to
balance unfastened hats upon the top of agitated heads.
Mr. Bingle came into the room just in time to hear each of the four
accusing all of the others of trying to sneak off and leave her with
the bag to hold, or words to that effect. With his entrance, however,
each of the hasty nurse-maids was reminded of a dreadfully sick
relative in town and of the necessity for instant departure. What they
wanted of Mr. Bingle was their pay--and a reference.
The poor gentleman was flabbergasted. He wanted to know what had
happened. They told him in one voice that it was nearly train-time and
that nothing had happened, and would he please hurry.
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