And you , Amelia , go downstairs and cook a breakfast for them . '' I never , in all my life , saw anything like the abject meekness with which those two big people obeyed that mite . They went , and stood not upon the order of their going . As the door closed behind them , Mrs. Matilda Pitman laughed silently , and rocked from side to side in her merriment . `` Ai n't it funny ? '' she said . `` I mostly lets them run the length of their tether but sometimes I has to pull them up , and then I does it with a jerk . Now , you can take your time about dressing , my dears , and I 'll go down and keep them in order , the mean scalawags . '' When we descended the stairs we found a smoking-hot breakfast on the table . Mr. Chapman was nowhere to be seen , and Mrs. Chapman was cutting bread with a sulky air . Mrs. Matilda Pitman was sitting in an armchair , knitting . She still wore her bonnet and her triumphant expression . `` Set right in , dears , and make a good breakfast , '' she said . `` We are not hungry , '' said Kate , almost pleadingly . `` I do n't think we can eat anything . And it 's time we were on the trail . Please excuse us and let us go on . '' Mrs. Matilda Pitman shook a knitting needle playfully at Kate . `` Sit down and take your breakfast , '' she commanded . `` Mrs. Matilda Pitman commands you .
Everybody obeys Mrs. Matilda XXXXX -- even Robert and Amelia .
Amelia Chapman Kate Pitman armchair bonnet dears meekness right scalawags