Page:Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey (1st edition), Volume 3 (Agnes Grey).djvu/83

Rh And when the matter was explained to her, all she did was to send for the nursery-maid to put the room in order, and bring Master Bloomfield his supper.

"There now," cried Tom, triumphantly, looking up from his viands with his mouth almost too full for speech. "There now, Miss Grey! you see I have got my supper in spite of you: and I haven't picked up a single thing!"

The only person in the house who had any real sympathy for me was the nurse; for she had suffered like afflictions, though in a smaller degree, as she had not the task of teaching, nor was she so responsible for the conduct of her charge.

"Oh, Miss Grey!" she would say, "you have some trouble with them childer!"

"I have indeed, Betty; and I dare say you know what it is."

"Ay, I do so! But I don't vex myself o'er 'em as you do. And then, you see, I hit 'em a slap sometimes; and them little uns—I gives 'em a good whipping now and then—there's nothing else ull do for 'em, as what they say. Howsever, I've lost my place for it." 3