An' she's a nasty, stingy thing, that Countess.

She's niver giv me a sixpence nor an old rag neither, sin' here's she's been.

A-lyin' a bed an a-comin' down to breakfast when other folks wants their dinner!' If such was the state of Nanny's mind as early as the end of August, when this dialogue with Mr.Tomms occurred, you may imagine what it must have been by the beginning of November, and that at that time a very slight spark might any day cause the long-smouldering anger to flame forth in open indignation.
That spark happened to fall the very morning that Mrs.Hackit paid the visit to Mrs.Patten, recorded in the last chapter.

Nanny's dislike of the Countess extended to the innocent dog Jet, whom she 'couldn't a-bear to see made a fuss wi' like a Christian.

An' the little ouzle must be washed, too, ivery Saturday, as if there wasn't children enoo to wash, wi'out washin' dogs.' Now this particular morning it happened that Milly was quite too poorly to get up, and Mr.Barton observed to Nanny, on going out, that he would call and tell Mr.Brand to come.