Since daybreak Eudoxia had been scouring and polishing in honour of the expected arrival and a hundred times Mrs.
Rossmore had climbed the stairs to see that everything was as it should be in the room which had been prepared for Shirley.

It was not, however, without a passage at arms that Eudoxia consented to consider the idea of an addition to the family.

Mrs.Rossmore had said to her the day before: "My daughter will be here to-morrow, Eudoxia." A look expressive of both displeasure and astonishment marred the classic features of the hireling.

Putting her broom aside and placing her arms akimbo she exclaimed in an injured tone: "And it's a dayther you've got now?
So it's three in family you are! When I took the place it's two you tould me there was!" "Well, with your kind permission," replied Mrs.Rossmore, "there will be three in future.

There is nothing in the Constitution of the United States that says we can't have a daughter without consulting our help, is there ?" The sarcasm of this reply did not escape even the dull-edged wits of the Irish drudge.