Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/424

 have told you it would be up in five minutes. At length, one bustles in with the tea equipage, and toast swimming in butter. After this has had half an hour to cool, another appears armed with the huge tea kettle, which he places on the hearth, while he goes in search of the tea. Another half hour passes, during which you repeatedly ring the bell, but to no purpose. By this time you are in despair, the bare-legged wench runs in, bearing the tea caddie in her black hand, and saying, she has been but this moment able to get it from her mistress. Her mistress you need not expect to see; as she makes a point of never appearing to ladies, not being in dress to be seen by them; and being, moreover, greatly troubled with weak nerves.

If you are so unfortunate as not to have a travelling carriage, I hope you will not travel this road in rainy weather; as the glasses of Mr MacClarty's chaises were all broken at an election, about two years ago, and have not been yet repaired. This will account for the heap of wet straw at the bottom of the carriage, which, as it is never changed, must of course smell somewhat fusty. The linings are likewise in a very bad condition; but on the stuffing of the cushions, time has made little