“I have seen the plan of Latrigg Hall,” said Julius one day to Sophia.  “An absurdly fine building for a man of Stephen’s birth.  What will he do with it?  It will require as large an income as Seat-Sandal to support it.”

“Stephen is rich.  His grandfather left him a great deal of money.  Ducie will add considerably to the sum, and Stephen seems to have the faculty of getting it.  My mother says he is managing three ‘walks,’ and all of them are doing well.”

“Nevertheless, I do not like him.  ‘In-law’ kinsmen and kinswomen are generally detestable.  Look at my brothers-in-law, Mr. Harry Sandal and Mr. Stephen Latrigg; and my sisters-in-law, Mrs. Harry Sandal and Miss Charlotte Sandal; a pretty undesirable quartette I think.”

“And look at mine.  For sisters-in-law, Mahal and Judith Sandal; for brothers-in-law, William and Tom Sandal; a pretty undesirable quartette I think.”

Julius did not relish the retort; for he replied stiffly, “If so, they are at least at the other end of the world, and not likely to trouble you.  That is surely something in their favor.”

The first movement of the Julius Sandals in Seat-Sandal had been a clever one.  “I want you to let us have the east rooms, dear mother,” said Sophia, on their arrival; “Julius does feel the need of the morning sun so much.”  And though other rooms had been prepared, the request was readily granted, and without any suspicion of the motive which had dictated it.  And yet they had made a very prudent calculation.  Occupying the east rooms gave them a certain prominence and standing in the house, for only guests of importance were assigned to them; and the servants, who are people of wise perceptions generally, took their tone from the circumstance.

It seemed as if a spirit of dissatisfaction and quarrelling came with them.  The maids all found out that their work was too heavy, and that they were worn out with it.  Sophia had been pitying them.  “Mrs. Sandal does not mean to be hard, but she is so wrapped up in the squire she sees nothing; and Miss Charlotte is so strong herself, she really expects too much from others.  She does not intend to be exacting, but then she is; she can’t help it.”

And sitting over “a bit of hot supper” the chambermaid repeated the remark; and the housemaid said she only knew that she was traipsed off her feet, and hadn’t been near hand her own folks for a fortnight; and the cook thought Missis had got quite nattry.  She had been near falling out with her more than once; and all the ill-nature was because she was fagged out, all day long and every day making some kind of little knick-shaw or other that was never eaten.

Not one remembered that the Julius Sandals had themselves considerably increased the work of the house; and that Mrs. Julius alone could find quite sufficient employment for one maid.  Since her advent, Charlotte’s room had been somewhat neglected for the fine guest-chambers; but it was upon Charlotte all the blame of over-work and weariness was laid.  Insensibly the thought had its effect.  She began to feel that for some reason or other she was out of favor; that her few wants were carelessly attended to, and that Mrs. Julius influenced the house as completely as she had done when she was Miss Sandal.