They answered civilly, but in other respects remained imperfect beings; they laid out every shilling they earned in finery; and, this, I am ashamed to say, irritated Mrs.Staines, who was wearing out her wedding garments, and had no excuse for buying, and Staines had begged her to be economical.

The more they dressed, the more she scolded; they began to answer.

She gave the cook warning; the other, though not on good terms with the cook, had a gush of esprit de corps directly, and gave Mrs.Staines warning.
Mrs.Staines told her husband all this: he took her part, though without openly interfering; and they had two new servants, not so good as the last.
This worried Rosa sadly; but it was a flea-bite to the deeper nature, and more forecasting mind of her husband, still doomed to pace that miserable yard, like a hyena, chafing, seeking, longing for the patient that never came.
Rosa used to look out of his dressing-room window, and see him pace the yard.

At first, tears of pity stood in her eyes.

By and by she got angry with the world; and at last, strange to say, a little irritated with him.