It was not the custom to say "please" and "thank
you" and Mary had always slapped her Ayah in
the face when she was angry. She wondered a
little what this girl would do if one slapped her
in the face. She was a round, rosy, good-natured
looking creature, but she had a sturdy way which
made Mistress Mary wonder if she might not
even slap back -- if the person who slapped her
was only a little girl.

"You are a strange servant," she said from her
pillows, rather haughtily.

Martha sat up on her heels, with her blacking-brush
in her hand, and laughed, without seeming
the least out of temper.

"Eh! I know that," she said. "If there was
a grand Missus at Misselthwaite I should never
have been even one of th' under housemaids. I
might have been let to be scullery-maid but I'd
never have been let up-stairs. I'm too common
an' I talk too much Yorkshire. But this is a
funny house for all it's so grand. Seems like
there's neither Master nor Mistress except Mr.
Pitcher an' Mrs. Medlock. Mr. Craven, he
won't be troubled about anythin' when he's here,
an' he's nearly always away. Mrs. Medlock gave
me th' place out o' kindness. She told me she
could never have done it if Misselthwaite had been
like other big houses."

[[32]]

p031 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p032w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p033

v?