Mistress and Maid eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 411 pages of information about Mistress and Maid.

Mistress and Maid eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 411 pages of information about Mistress and Maid.

When, with a vivid blush that she could not repress, Elizabeth told her mistress that Tom Cliffe had been to see her, the latter replied at first carelessly, for her mind was preoccupied.  Then, her attention caught by the aforesaid blush, Miss Hilary asked.

“How old is the lad?”

“Nineteen.”

“That’s a bad age, Elizabeth.  Too old to be a pet, and rather too young for a husband.”

“I never thought of such a thing,” said Elizabeth, warmly—­and honestly, at the time.

“Did he want to come and see you again?”

“He said so.”

“Oh, well, if he is a steady, respectable lad there can be no objection.  I should like to see him myself next time.”

And then a sudden sharp recollection that there would likely be no next time, in their service at least, made Miss Hilary feel quite a hypocrite.

“Elizabeth,” said she, “we will speak about Tom Cliffe—­is not that his name?—­by-and-by.  Now, as soon as tea is over, my sister wants to talk to you.  When you are ready, will you come up stairs?”

She spoke in an especially gentle tone, so that by no possibility could Elizabeth fancy they were displeased with her.

Now, knowing the circumstances of the family, Elizabeth’s conscience had often smitten her that she must eat a great deal, that her wages, paid regularly month by month, must make a great hole in her mistress’s income.  She was, alack! a sad expense, and she tried to lighten her cost in every possible way.  But it never struck her that they could do without her, or that any need would arise for their doing so.  So she went into the parlor quite unsuspiciously, and found Miss Leaf lying on the sofa, and Miss Hilary reading aloud the letter from India.  But it was laid quietly aside as she said, “Johanna, Elizabeth is here.”

Then Johanna, rousing herself to say what must be said, but putting it as gently and kindly as she could, told Elizabeth, what mistresses often think it below their dignity to tell to servants, the plain truth—­namely, that circumstances obliged herself and Miss Hilary to retrench their expenses as much as they possibly could.  That they were going to live in two little rooms at Richmond, where they would board with the inmates of the house.

“And so, and so—­” Miss Leaf faltered.  It was very hard to say it with those eager eyes fixed upon her.

Hilary took up the word—­ “And so, Elizabeth, much as it grieves us, we shall be obliged to part with you.  We cannot any longer afford to keep a servant.”

No answer.

“It is not even as it was once before, when we thought you might do better for yourself.  We know, if it were possible, you would rather stay with us, and we would rather keep you.  It is like parting with one of our own family.”  And Miss Hilary’s voice too failed.  “However, there is no help for it; we must part.”

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Mistress and Maid from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.