or Rivers? Does he?''
''Please,'' I said again. ''I ain''t Mrs Rivers.'' ''She ain''t Mrs Rivers? Hear that, Mr Bates? And I ain''t Nurse Spiller, I dare say. And Mr Hedges ain''t himself. Very likely.''
She came closer to me, and she picked me up about my waist; and she dropped me. You could not say she threw me, but she lifted me high and let me fall; and me being just then so dazed and so weak, I fell badly.
''That''s for cracking my face,'' she said. ''Be glad we ain''t on stairs, or a roof. Crack me again—who knows?—we might be.'' She pulled her canvas apron straight, and leaned and caught hold of my collar. ''Right, let''s have this gown off. You may look like thunder, too. That''s nothing to me. Why, what small little hooks! And my hand''s hard, is it? Used to better, are you? I should say you are, from what I''ve heard.'' She laughed. ''Well, we don''t keep ladies'' maids, here. We has Mr Hedges and Mr Bates.'' They still stood, watching, at the door. ''Shall I call them over?''
I supposed she meant to strip me bare; which I would rather die first, than endure. I got on to my knees and twisted from her.
''You may call who you like, you great bitch,'' I said, in a pant. ''You ain''t having my dress.''
Her face grew dark. ''Bitch, am I?'' she answered. ''Well!''
And she drew back her hand and curled her fingers into a fist, and she hit me.