Insensibly the thought had its effect. She began to feel that for some
reason or other she was out of favor; that her few wants were carelessly
attended to, and that Mrs. Julius influenced the house as completely as
she had done when she was Miss Sandal.
She soon discovered, also, that repining was useless. Her mother begged
for peace at any cost. "Put up with it," she said, "for a little while,
Charlotte. I cannot bear quarrelling. And you know how Sophia will
insist upon explaining. She will call up the servants, and 'fend and
prove,' and make complaints and regrets, and in the long end have all on
her own side. And I can tell you that Ann has been queer lately, and
Elizabeth talks of leaving at Martinmas. O Charlotte! put up with
things, my dear. There is only you to help me."
Charlotte could not resist such appeals. She knew she was really the
hand to which all other hands in the house looked, the heart on which
her father and mother leaned their weary hearts; still, she could not
but resent many an unkind position, which Sophia's clever tactics
compelled her to take. For instance, as she was leaving the room one
morning, Sophia said in her blandest voice, "Dear Charlotte, will you
tell Ann to make one of those queen puddings for Julius. He does enjoy
them so much."
Ann did not receive the order pleasantly. "They are a sight of trouble,
Miss Charlotte. I'll be hard set with the squire's fancies to-day.
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