And no sooner was this leading trouble set aside, than I began to worry about the children's clothes, and the prospect of losing my cook, who had managed my kitchen more to my satisfaction than any one had ever done before.
The promise for a pleasant hour at home was but little more flattering to my husband, when he returned in the evening, than it had been at dinner time.

I was still in a sombre mood.
In the morning Mrs.Partridge came early and commenced the washing.
There was something in this woman's appearance that interested me, and something in her face that reminded me of somebody I had seen before; but when and where I could not tell.

Although her clothes were poor and faded, there was nothing common about her, and she struck me as being superior to her class.

Several times during the morning I had to go into the kitchen where she was at work, and each time her appearance impressed me more and more.

An emotion of pity arose in my bosom, as I saw her bending over the washing tub, and remembered that, for this hard labour during a whole day, the pay was to be but seventy-five cents.