And pray how did you come to learn she was outside ?" "Because she'd looked in at the door a minute afore and was afeared to come in 'cause of you, mistress.

Give me that dish o' bacon, Betty.

The man who saw his breakfast tumbling on the floor is in a sad pother." This was a shot for Mrs.Fenton.Hannah rarely sought to have words with her mistress, but when she did she stood up to her boldly.

Mrs.Fenton was discomfited and Hannah, snatching the dish Betty handed to her, vanished to appease the hungry customer, leaving the angry woman to chew over her wrath as best she might.
Mrs.Fenton gradually cooled down.

In half an hour's time the market would be in full swing and most of her customers would be gone.