The things we do!

The girl's interference was not likely to
benefit her mistress much: the wretched Lady Clara passed the last night
under the roof of her husband and children, unattended save by this poor
domestic who was about to leave her, in tears and hysterical outcries,
and then in moaning stupor. Lady Clara put to sleep with laudanum, her
maid carried down the story of her wrongs to the servants' quarters; and
half a dozen of them took in their resignation to Sir Barnes as he sat
over his breakfast the next morning--in his ancestral hall--surrounded by
the portraits of his august forefathers--in his happy home.
Their mutiny of course did not add to their master's good-humour; and his
letters brought him news which increased Barnes's fury. A messenger
arrived with a letter from his man of business at Newcome, upon the
receipt of which be started up with such an execration as frightened the
servant waiting on him, and letter in hand he ran to Lady Clara's
sitting-room. Her ladyship was up.


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