'
"Oh, how hard it is to understand a _man!_ they _are_ so impracticable
with their justice and things. I came away with my cheeks burning, and my
heart like a stone; to bed, but not to sleep. My poor, poor unhappy,
noble Alfred!"
_"Dec. 27th._--Mamma and Edward have discussed it: they say nothing to
me. Can they have written to him? I go about my duties like a ghost; and
pray for submission to the Divine will."
_"Dec. 28th_--To-day as I was reading by main force to Mrs. Eagleton's
sick girl, came Sarah all in a hurry with, I was wanted, Miss. But I
_would_ finish my chapter, and O how hard the devil tried to make me
gabble it; so I clenched my teeth at him, and read it as if I was
spelling it; and then _didn't_ I fly?
_"He_ was there; and they all sat waiting for me. I was hot and cold all
at the same time, and he rose and bowed to me, and I curtseyed to him,
and sat down and took my work, and didn't know one bit what I was doing.
"And our new oracle, Edward, laid down the law like anything. 'Look here,
Hardie,' said he, 'if anybody but you had told us about this fourteen
thousand pounds, I should have set the police on your governor before
now.
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