` You 're going to be good , Topsy , you understand ? ' said Mr. St. Clare . ` Oh yes , mas ` r ' said Topsy again , meekly folding her hands , but with another twinkle in her eyes . ` Now cousin , what is this for ? Your house is full of these little plagues as it is . I get up in the morning and find one asleep behind the door ; see one black head poking out from under the table ; another lying on the mat . They tumble over the kitchen floor , so that a body ca n't put their foot down without treading on them . What on earth did you want to bring this one for ? ' ` For you to teach , did n't I tell you ? ' ' I do n't want her , I 'm sure . I have more to do with them now than I want . ' ` Well the fact is , cousin , ' said Mr. St. Clare , drawing her aside , ` she belonged to some people who were dreadfully cruel and beat her . I could n't bear to hear her screaming every day , so I bought her . I will give her to you . Do try and make something of her . ' ` Well , I 'll do what I can , ' said Miss Ophelia . ` She is fearfully dirty , and half naked . ' ` Well , take her downstairs , and tell somebody to clean her up , and give her some decent clothes . ' Getting Topsy clean was a very long business . But at last it was done .
Then , sitting down before her , Miss XXXXX began to question her .
Clare Miss Ophelia Topsy business day downstairs house morning plagues