Remember that I 've come down in the world , but I have n't forgot all decency for all that . I knew you was a skinflint when Amelia married you and you 've made her as bad as yourself . But I 'm boss here yet . Here , you , Robert Chapman , take yourself out of here and let those girls get dressed . 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 XXXXX . ''
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