Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/54

 work until she went down to dinner; but though thoughtless of my wants, she was in other respects very kind to me, and gave me every encouragement by praising my work. The more satisfaction she expressed in me, the less gracious did Mrs Jackson become. She would on some days scarcely speak to me; and, though I begged to know if I had offended her, would make me no other answer than that I was now too fine a lady to mind any thing she could say. This made me very unhappy, so that I often cried sadly when I was sitting at my work alone; and was one day observed by my lady, who, though my back was towards her, had seen my face in the glass as she entered the room. She asked what was the matter with me, in a tone so peremptory that I dared not refuse to answer; and with many tears I confessed, that Mrs Jackson was displeased with me, and I knew not for what.

"But I shall know," said my lady, pulling the bell with violence—"