[Castle Richmond by Anthony Trollope]@TWC D-Link bookCastle Richmond CHAPTER VIII 14/22
But she expressed no thanks on being so treated. The hardest burden which had to be borne by those who exerted themselves at this period was the ingratitude of the poor for whom they worked;--or rather I should say thanklessness.
To call them ungrateful would imply too deep a reproach, for their convictions were that they were being ill used by the upper classes.
When they received bad meal which they could not cook, and even in their extreme hunger could hardly eat half-cooked; when they were desired to leave their cabins and gardens, and flock into the wretched barracks which were prepared for them; when they saw their children wasting away under a suddenly altered system of diet, it would have been unreasonable to expect that they should have been grateful. Grateful for what? Had they not at any rate a right to claim life, to demand food that should keep them and their young ones alive? But not the less was it a hard task for delicate women to work hard, and to feel that all their work was unappreciated by those whom they so thoroughly commiserated, whose sufferings they were so anxious to relieve. It was almost dark before they left Berryhill, and then they had to go out of their way to pick up Aunt Letty at Mr.Townsend's house. "Don't go in whatever you do, girls," said Herbert; "we should never get away." "Indeed we won't unpack ourselves again before we get home; will we, Clara ?" "Oh, I hope not.
I'm very nice now, and so warm.
But, Mr.Fitzgerald, is not Mrs.Townsend very queer ?" "Very queer indeed.
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