As if this were not enough to mar the pleasure of the dinner hour for a hungry husband, Mrs.Smith added thereto a distressed countenance and discouraging complaints.

Nancy was grumbled at and scolded every time she had occasion to appear in the room, and her single attempt to excuse herself on account of not understanding the cook stove, was met by: "Do hush, will you! I'm out of all patience!" As to the latter part of the sentence, that was a needless waste of words.

The condition of mind she described was fully apparent.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, just as Mrs.Smith had found a temporary relief from a troubled mind and a most intolerable headache, in sleep, a tap on the chamber door awoke her, there stood Nancy, all equipped for going out.
"I find I won't suit you, ma'am," said Nancy, "and so you must look out for another girl." Having said this, she turned away and took her departure, leaving Mrs.Smith in a state of mind, as it is said, "more easily imagined than described." "O dear! what shall I do!" at length broke from her lips, as she burst into tears, and burying her face in the pillow, sobbed aloud.
Already she had repented of her fretfulness and fault-finding temper, as displayed towards Rachel, and could she have made a truce with pride, or silenced its whispers, would have sent for her well-tried domestic, and endeavored to make all fair with her again.
But, under the circumstances, this was now impossible.

While yet undetermined how to act, the street bell rung, and she was compelled to attend the door, as she was now alone in the house.

She found, on opening it, a rough-looking country girl, who asked if she were the lady who wanted a chamber maid.