"If you can do the work, Ann, you may stay," said Sophia to the dissatisfied cook; "if not, the squire will pay you your due wages.
He has a friend in London whose cook would like a situation in the country." After which explanation Ann behaved herself admirably, and never found her work hard, though dinner was two hours later, and the supper dishes were not sent in until eleven o'clock.
But, though Julius had succeeded in bringing his table so far within his own ideas of comfort, in other respects he felt his impotence to order events.

Every meal-time brought him in contact with the widow Sandal and with Charlotte; and neither Sophia, nor yet himself, had felt able to request the late mistress to resign her seat at the foot of the table.
And Sophia soon began to think it unkind of her mother not to see the position, and voluntarily amend it.

"I do really think mother might have some consideration for me, Julius," she complained.

"It puts me in such a very peculiar position not to take my place at my own table; and it is so trying and perplexing for the servants,--making them feel as if there were two mistresses." "And always the calm, scornful face of your sister Charlotte at her side.

Do you notice with what ostentatious obedience and attention she devotes herself to your mother ?" "She thinks that she is showing me my duty, Julius.