That 's all I want . You fellows go and I 'll stay home . You need n't be scared I 'll steal anything . I swear I 'm honest . '' Mary employed herself while the others were at school in cleaning up the manse . In a few days it was a different place . Floors were swept , furniture dusted , everything straightened out . She mended the spare-room bed-tick , she sewed on missing buttons , she patched clothes neatly , she even invaded the study with broom and dustpan and ordered Mr. Meredith out while she put it to rights . But there was one department with which Aunt Martha refused to let her interfere . Aunt Martha might be deaf and half blind and very childish , but she was resolved to keep the commissariat in her own hands , in spite of all Mary 's wiles and stratagems . `` I can tell you if old Martha 'd let ME cook you 'd have some decent meals , '' she told the manse children indignantly . `` There 'd be no more ` ditto ' -- and no more lumpy porridge and blue milk either . What DOES she do with all the cream ? '' `` She gives it to the cat . He 's hers , you know , '' said Faith . `` I 'd like to CAT her , `` exclaimed Mary bitterly . `` I 've no use for cats anyhow . They belong to the old Nick . You can tell that by their eyes . Well , if old Martha wo n't , she wo n't , I s ` pose .
But it gits XXXXX my nerves to see good vittles spoiled . ''
In Martha Mary dustpan for if on to while with