“They were cleaned not many days ago,” said her daughter, “and I think we could manage to see till the weather’s less terrible.”

“My dear, if we managed so as to give the servant no trouble at all, the house would soon be in a pretty state.  Be so good as not to interfere.  It’s really an extraordinary thing that as soon as I find a girl who almost suits me, you begin to try to spoil her.  One would think you took a pleasure in making my life miserable—­”

Overwhelmed with floods of reproach, Bertha had either to combat or to retreat.  Again her nerves failed her, and she left the room.

At dinner that day there was a roast leg of mutton, and, as her habit was, Mrs. Cross carved the portion which Martha was to take away for herself.  One very small and very thin slice, together with one unwholesome little potato, represented the servant’s meal.  As soon as the door had closed, Bertha spoke in an ominously quiet voice.

“Mother, this won’t do.  I am very sorry to annoy you, but if you call that a dinner for a girl who works hard ten or twelve hours a day, I don’t.  How she supports life, I can’t understand.  You have only to look into her face to see she’s starving.  I can bear the sight of it no longer.”

This time she held firm.  The conflict lasted for half an hour, during which Mrs. Cross twice threatened to faint.  Neither of them ate anything, and in the end Bertha saw herself, if not defeated, at all events no better off than at the beginning, for her mother clung fiercely to authority, and would obviously live in perpetual strife rather than yield an inch.  For the next two days domestic life was very unpleasant indeed; mother and daughter exchanged few words; meanwhile Martha was tasked, if possible, more vigorously than ever, and fed mysteriously, meals no longer doled out to her under Bertha’s eyes.  The third morning brought another crisis.

“I have a letter from Emily,” said Bertha at breakfast, naming a friend of hers who lived in the far north of London.  “I’m going to see her to-day.”

“Very well,” answered Mrs. Cross, between rigid lips.

“She says that in the house where she lives, there’s a bed-sitting-room to let.  I think, mother, it might be better for me to take it.”

“You will do just as you please, Bertha.”

“I shall have dinner to-day with Emily, and be back about tea-time.”

“I have no doubt,” replied Mrs. Cross, “that Martha will be so obliging as to have tea ready for you.  If she doesn’t feel strong enough, of course I will see to it myself.”

CHAPTER 42

On the evening before, Martha had received her month’s wages, and had been promised the usual afternoon of liberty to-day; but, as soon as Bertha had left the house, Mrs. Cross summoned the domestic, and informed her bluntly that the holiday must be postponed.