M. L. Campbell, The Automatic Maid-of-All-Work…
“ After the door closed upon the policeman, John looked at me and I at him. The maid had accomplished several revolutions around the dining-room and was about to return. “Mercy, Fanny, you’re always talking how much there is to do; can’t you think of something I’m not supposed to know.” “No,” I answered, grimly, but an idea struck John, and he immediately hurried to pull another wire. ”
M. L. Campbell, The Automatic Maid-of-All-Work…
“ John was just explaining how this was done when Fred exclaimed, “There’s an old fellow now; I wonder if he is coming here!” Yes, sure enough; he turned in at the gate, and presently there was a ring at the door-bell. Beggars are so impudent, and this was an old offender, so I didn’t say anything when John pressed the wire, and we all followed to the door to see the effect, John remarking that it wouldn’t hurt him. The door was opened quite quietly, but closed with a bang after the maid. ”
M. L. Campbell, The Automatic Maid-of-All-Work…
“ Well, we went into the dining-room, and sure enough the table was set, and pretty well too, only that the butter dish, with the butter, was upside down on the table, and the coal-scuttle was set at John’s place, instead of the oatmeal dish. That was because John, who always leaves things in ridiculous places, had left it standing on the back of the stove after putting in the coal ready for the morning fire. The porridge was standing cooked on the stove. We had got an arrangement with a white earthen bowl set into a kettle, and the bowl had just to be removed and carried in. ”
