composition？〃
〃I'd rather do the work fifty times over myself。〃
〃Hush！ people will hear you。〃
When they walked home after church； Staines tried to divert her
from the consideration of her wrongs； but noall other topics were
too flat by comparison。
She mourned the hard fate of mistressesunfortunate creatures that
could not do without servants。
〃Is not that a confession that servants are good； useful creatures；
with all their faults？ Then as to the mania for dress； why； that
is not confined to them。 It is the mania of the sex。 Are you free
from it？〃
〃No； of course not。 But I am a lady； if you please。〃
〃Then she is your intellectual inferior； and more excusable。
Anyway； it is wise to connive at a thing we can't help。〃
〃What keep her； after this？ no； never。〃
〃My dear； pray do not send her away； for she is tidy in the house；
and quick； and better than any one we have had this last six
months； and you know you have tried a great number。〃
〃To hear you speak； one would think it was my fault that we have so
many bad servants。〃
〃I never said it was your fault； but I THINK； dearest； a little
more forbearance in trifles〃
〃Trifles！ triflesfor a mistress and maid to be seen dressed alike
in the same church？ You take the servants' part against me； that
you do。〃
〃You should not say that； even in jest。 Come now； do you really
think a jacket like yours can make the servant look like you； or
detract from your grace and beauty？ There is a very simple way；
put your jacket by for a future occasion； and wear something else
in its stead at church。〃
〃A nice thing； indeed； to give in to these creatures。 I won't do
it。〃
〃Why won't you； this once？〃
〃Because I won'tthere！〃
〃That is unanswerable；〃 said he。
Mrs。 Staines said that； but when it came to acting； she deferred to
her husband's wish； she resigned her intention of sending for Clara
and giving her warning。 On the contrary； when Clara let her in；
and the white jackets rubbed together in the narrow passage； she
actually said nothing； but stalked to her own room； and tore her
jacket off； and flung it on the floor。
Unfortunately； she was so long dressing for the Zoo； that Clara
came in to arrange the room。 She picks up the white jacket； takes
it in both hands； gives it a flap； and proceeds to hang it up in
the wardrobe。
Then the great feminine heart burst its bounds。
〃You can leave that alone。 I shall not wear that again。〃
Thereupon ensued an uneven encounter； Clara being one of those of
whom the Scripture says； 〃The poison of asps is under their
tongues。〃
〃La； ma'am；〃 said she； 〃why； 'tain't so very dirty。〃
〃No； but it is too common。〃
〃Oh； because I've got one like it。 Ay。 Missises can't abide a
good…looking servant； nor to see 'em dressed becoming。〃
〃Mistresses do not like servants to forget their place； nor wear
what does not become their situation。〃
〃My situation！ Why； I can pay my way； go where I will。 I don't
tremble at the tradesmen's knock； as some do。〃
〃Leave the room！ Leave it this moment。〃
〃Leave the room； yesand I'll leave the house too； and tell all
the neighbors what I know about it。〃
She flounced out and slammed the door； and Rosa sat down；
trembling。
Clara rushed to the kitchen； and there told the cook and Andrew
Pearman how she had given it to the mistress； and every word she
had said to her； with a good many more she had not。
The cook laughed and encouraged her。
But Andrew Pearman was wroth； and said； 〃You to affront our
mistress like that！ Why； if I had heard you； I'd have twisted your
neck for ye。〃
〃It would take a better man than you to do that。 You mind your own
business。 Stick to your one…horse chay。〃
〃Well； I'm not above my place； for that matter。 But you gals must
always be aping your betters。〃
〃I have got a proper pride； that is all； and you haven't。 You
ought to be ashamed of yourself to do two men's work； drive a
brougham and wait on a horse； and then come in and wait at table；
You are a tea…kettle groom； that is what you are。 Why； my brother
was coachman to Lord Fitz…James； and gave his lordship notice the
first time he had to drive the children。 Says he； 'I don't object
to the children； my lord； but with her ladyship in the carriage。'
It's such servants as you as spoil places。 No servant as knows
what's due to a servant ought to know you。 They'd scorn your
'quaintance； as I do； Mr。 Pearman。〃
〃You are a stuck…up hussy； and a soldier's jade；〃 roared Andrew。
〃And you are a low tea…kettle groom。〃
This expression wounded the great equestrian soul to the quick； the
rest of Sunday he pondered on it； the next morning he drove the
doctor； as usual； but with a heavy heart。
Meantime； the cook made haste and told the baker Pearman had 〃got
it hot〃 from the housemaid； and she had called him a tea…kettle
groom； and in less than half an hour after that it was in every
stable in the mews。 Why； as Pearman was taking the horse out of
the brougham； didn't two little red…headed urchins call out； 〃Here；
come and see the tea…kettle groom！〃 and at night some mischievous
boy chalked on the black door of the stable a large white tea…
kettle； and next morning a drunken； idle fellow； with a clay pipe
in his mouth； and a dirty pair of corduroy trousers； no coat； but a
shirt very open at the chest； showing inflamed skin； the effect of
drink； inspected that work of art with blinking eyes and
vacillating toes； and said； 〃This comes of a chap doing too much。
A few more like you； and work would be scarce。 A fine thing for
gentlefolks to make one man fill two places！ but it ain't the
gentlefolks' fault； it's the man as humors 'em。〃
Pearman was a peaceable man； and made no reply； but went on with
his work； only during the day he told his master that he should be
obliged to him if he would fill his situation as soon as
convenient。
The master inquired the cause； and the man told him； and said the
mews was too hot for him。
The doctor offered him five pounds a year more； knowing he had a
treasure； but Pearman said； with sadness and firmness； that he had
made up his mind to go； and go he would。
The doctor's heart fairly sank at the prospect of losing the one
creature he could depend upon。
Next Sunday evening Clara was out； and fell in with friends； to
whom she exaggerated her grievance。
Then they worked her up to fury； after the manner of servants'
FRIENDS。 She came home； packed her box； brought it down； and then
flounced into the room to Doctor and Mrs。 Staines； and said； 〃I
shan't sleep another night in this house。〃
Rosa was about to speak； but Dr。 Staines forbade her： he said； 〃You
had better think twice of that。 You are a good servant； though for
once you have been betrayed into speaking disrespectfully。 Why
forfeit your character； and three weeks' wages？〃
〃I don't care for my wages。 I won't stay in such a house as this。〃
〃Come； you must not be impertinent。〃
〃I don't mean to； sir；〃 said she； lowering her voice suddenly；
then； raising it as suddenly； 〃There are my keys； ma'am； and you
can search my box。〃
〃Mrs。 Staines will not search your box； and you will retire at once
to your own part of the house。〃
〃I'll go farther than that；〃 said she； and soon after the street
door was slammed； the Bijou shook。
At six o'clock next morning； she came for her box。 It had been put
away for safety。 Pearman told her she must wait till the doctor
came down。 She did not wait； but went at eleven A。M。 to a police…
magistrate； and took out a summons against Dr。 Staines； for
detaining a box containing certain articles specifiedvalue under
fifteen pounds。
When Dr。 Staines heard she had been for her box； but left no
address； he sent Pearman to hunt for her。 He could not find her。
She avoided the house； but sent a woman for her diurnal love
letters。 Dr。 Staines sent the woman back to fetch her。 She came；
received her box； her letters； and the balance of her wages； which
was small； for Staines deducted the three weeks' wages。
Two days afterwards； to his surprise； the summons was served。
Out of respect for a court of justice； however humble； Dr。 Staines
attended next Monday to meet the summons。
The magistrate was an elderly man； with a face shaped like a hog's；
but much richer in color； being purple and pimply； so foul a visage
Staines had rarely seen； even in the lowest class of the community。
Clara swore that her box had been opened； and certain things stolen
out of it； and that she had been refused the box next morning。
Staines swore that he had never opened the box； and that； if any
one else had； it was with her consent； for she had left the keys
for that purpose。 He bade the magistrate observe that if a servant
went away like this； and left no address； she put it out of the
master's POWER to send her box after her； and he proved he had some
trouble to force the box on her。
The pig…faced beak showed a manifest leaning towards the servant；
but there wasn't a leg to stand on； and he did not believe； nor was
it credible； that anything had been stolen out of her box。
At this moment； Pearman； sent by Rosa； entered the court with an
old gown of Clara's that had been discovered in the scullery； and a
scribbling…book of the doctor's； which Clara had appropriated； and
written amorous verses in； very superiorin numberto those that
have come down to us from Anacreon。
〃Hand me those；〃 said the pig…faced beak。
〃What are they； Dr。 Staines？〃
〃I really don't know。 I must ask my servant。〃
〃Why； more things of mine that have been detained；〃 said Clara。
〃Some things that have been found since she left；〃 said Staines。
〃Oh！ those that hide know where to find。〃
〃Young woman；〃 said Staines； 〃do not insult those whose bread you
have eaten； and who have given you many presents besides your
wages。 Since you are so ready to accuse people of stealing； permit
me to say that this book is mine； and not yours； and yet； you see；
it is sent after you because you have written your trash in it。〃
The purple； pig…faced beak went instantly out of the record； and
wasted a deal of time reading Clara's poetry； and trying to be
witty。 He