And yet they had made a very prudent calculation. Occupying
the east rooms gave them a certain prominence and standing in the house,
for only guests of importance were assigned to them; and the servants,
who are people of wise perceptions generally, took their tone from the
circumstance.
It seemed as if a spirit of dissatisfaction and quarrelling came with
them. The maids all found out that their work was too heavy, and that
they were worn out with it. Sophia had been pitying them. "Mrs. Sandal
does not mean to be hard, but she is so wrapped up in the squire she
sees nothing; and Miss Charlotte is so strong herself, she really
expects too much from others. She does not intend to be exacting, but
then she is; she can't help it."
And sitting over "a bit of hot supper" the chambermaid repeated the
remark; and the housemaid said she only knew that she was traipsed off
her feet, and hadn't been near hand her own folks for a fortnight; and
the cook thought Missis had got quite nattry. She had been near falling
out with her more than once; and all the ill-nature was because she was
fagged out, all day long and every day making some kind of little
knick-shaw or other that was never eaten.
Not one remembered that the Julius Sandals had themselves considerably
increased the work of the house; and that Mrs. Julius alone could find
quite sufficient employment for one maid. Since her advent, Charlotte's
room had been somewhat neglected for the fine guest-chambers; but it was
upon Charlotte all the blame of over-work and weariness was laid.
Pages:
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199