You must obey her too . '' We did obey her . We sat down and , such was the influence of her mesmeric eyes , we ate a tolerable breakfast . The obedient Amelia never spoke ; Mrs. Matilda Pitman did not speak either , but she knitted furiously and chuckled . When we had finished Mrs. Matilda Pitman rolled up her knitting . `` Now , you can go if you want to , '' she said , `` but you do n't have to go . You can stay here as long as you like , and I 'll make them cook your meals for you . '' I never saw Kate so thoroughly cowed . `` Thank you , '' she said faintly . `` You are very kind , but we must go . '' `` Well , then , '' said Mrs. Matilda Pitman , throwing open the door , `` your team is ready for you . I made Robert catch your ponies and harness them . And I made him fix that broken tongue properly . I enjoy making Robert do things . It 's almost the only sport I have left . I 'm eighty and most things have lost their flavour , except bossing Robert . '' Our democrat and ponies were outside the door , but Robert was nowhere to be seen ; in fact , we never saw him again . `` I do wish , '' said Kate , plucking up what little spirit she had left , `` that you would let us -- ah -- uh '' -- Kate quailed before Mrs. Matilda Pitman 's eye -- `` recompense you for our entertainment . '' `` Mrs. Matilda Pitman said before -- and meant it -- that she does n't take pay for entertaining strangers , nor let other people where she lives do it , much as their meanness would like to do it . '' We got away .
The sulky Amelia had vanished , and there was nobody to see us off XXXXX Mrs. Matilda Pitman .
as before except for if in like of so to