“What’s the reason you did not come when I first rung?” inquired our lady hostess, in a severe tone.

“I—­I—­came as quick as I could,” replied the girl, with a look of mortification at being spoken to before strangers.

“No, you didn’t!  It’s your custom to wait until I ring twice.  Now let this be the last time!”

And then, in a low voice, Mrs. Jones gave the direction for which she had summoned her.

“Such a set!” ejaculated the lady, as the girl left the room.  Her words were intended to reach other ears besides ours; and so they did.  “That girl,” she continued, addressing me, “has a habit of making me ring twice.  It really seems to give them pleasure, I believe, to annoy you.  Ah, me! this trouble with servants is a never ending one.  It meets you at every turn.”

And, for some time, she animadverted upon her favourite theme—­for such it appeared to be,—­until her husband, who was evidently annoyed, managed to change the subject of discourse.  Once or twice she came back to it before tea-time.

At last the tea bell rung, and we ascended to the dining-room.  We were but fairly seated, when a frown darkened suddenly on the brow of our hostess, and her hand applied itself nervously to the table-bell.

The girl who had set the table came up from the kitchen.

“There is no sugar in the bowl,” said Mrs. Jones sharply.  “I wish you would learn to set the table while you are about it.  I’m sure I have spoken to you often enough.”

As the girl took the sugar-bowl to fill it, the frown left the face of our hostess, and she turned to me with a bland smile, and asked whether I used sugar and cream in my tea.  I replied in the affirmative; but did not smile in return, for I could not.  I knew the poor girl’s feelings were hurt at being spoken to in such a way before strangers, and this made me extremely uncomfortable.

“Do you call this cream?” was the angry interrogation of Mrs. Jones, as the girl returned with the sugar, pushing towards her the cream-jug, which she had lifted from the table as she spoke.

“Yes, ma’am,” was replied.

“Look at it, and see, then.”

“It’s the cream,” said the girl.

“If that’s cream, I never want to see milk.  Here! take it away and bring me the cream.”

The girl looked confused and distressed.  But she took the cream-jug and went down-stairs with it.

“That’s just the way they always do!” said Mrs. Jones; leaning back in her chair.  “I really get out of all patience, sometimes.”

In a little while the girl returned.

“It’s the cream, ma’am, as I said.  Here’s the milk.”  And she presented two vessels.

Mrs. Jones took both from her hands with an ill-natured jerk.  Sure enough, it was as the girl had said.

“Such cream!” fell from the lips of our hostess, as she commenced pouring it into the cups already filled with tea.