Miss Ophelia thought she had never seen such a dreadful little girl in all her life.
'Cousin, what in the world have you brought that thing here for ?' she asked, in dismay.
'For you to teach, to be sure, and train in the way she should go,' said Mr.St.Clare, laughing.

'Topsy,' he went on, 'this is your new mistress.

See, now, that you behave yourself.' 'Yes, mas'r,' said Topsy gravely, but her eyes had a wicked twinkle in them.
'You're going to be good, Topsy, you understand ?' said Mr.St.Clare.
'Oh yes, mas'r' said Topsy again, meekly folding her hands, but with another twinkle in her eyes.
'Now cousin, what is this for?
Your house is full of these little plagues as it is.

I get up in the morning and find one asleep behind the door; see one black head poking out from under the table; another lying on the mat.

They tumble over the kitchen floor, so that a body can't put their foot down without treading on them.