under
the old authority, had not a complaint to make under the new. For the
present master and mistress of Sandal were not people who cared for
complaints. "If you can do the work, Ann, you may stay," said Sophia to
the dissatisfied cook; "if not, the squire will pay you your due wages.
He has a friend in London whose cook would like a situation in the
country." After which explanation Ann behaved herself admirably, and
never found her work hard, though dinner was two hours later, and the
supper dishes were not sent in until eleven o'clock.

But, though Julius had succeeded in bringing his table so far within his
own ideas of comfort, in other respects he felt his impotence to order
events. Every meal-time brought him in contact with the widow Sandal and
with Charlotte; and neither Sophia, nor yet himself, had felt able to
request the late mistress to resign her seat at the foot of the table.
And Sophia soon began to think it unkind of her mother not to see the
position, and voluntarily amend it. "I do really think mother might have
some consideration for me, Julius," she complained. "It puts me in such
a very peculiar position not to take my place at my own table; and it is
so trying and perplexing for the servants,--making them feel as if there
were two mistresses."

"And always the calm, scornful face of your sister Charlotte at her
side. Do you notice with what ostentatious obedience and attention she
devotes herself to your mother?"

"She thinks that she is showing me my duty, Julius. But people have some
duties toward themselves."

"And towards their husbands."

"Certainly. I thank Heaven I have always put my husband first." And she
really glanced upwards with the complacent air of one who expected
Heaven to imitate men, and "praise her for doing well unto herself."

"This state of things cannot go on much longer, Sophia."

"Certainly it cannot. Mother must look after her own house soon."

"I would speak to her to-day, Sophia. She has had six weeks now to
arrange her plans, and next month I want to begin and put the house into
decent condition. I think I will write to London this afternoon, and
tell Jeffcott to send the polishers and painters on the 15th of March."

"Mother is so slow about things, I don't think she will be ready to move
so early."

"Oh, I really can't stand them any longer! I can't indeed, Sophia, and I
won't. I did not marry your mother and sister, nor yet buy them with the
place. Y