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