They are resolved to break my heart. My poor Hannah is
discharged--disgracefully discharged!--Thus it was.
Within half an hour after I had sent the poor girl down for my
breakfast, that bold creature Betty Barnes, my sister's confidant and
servant, (if a favourite maid and confidant can be deemed a servant,)
came up.
What, Miss, will you please to have for breakfast?
I was surprised. What will I have for breakfast,
Betty!--How!--What!--How comes it!--Then I named Hannah. I could not
tell what to say.
Don't be surprised, Miss:--but you'll see Hannah no more in this house.
God forbid!--Is any harm come to Hannah?--What! What is the matter with
Hannah?
Why, Miss, the short and the long is this: Your papa and mamma think
Hannah has staid long enough in the house to do mischief; and so she
is ordered to troop [that was the confident creature's word]; and I am
directed to wait upon you in her stead.
I burst into tears. I have no service for you, Betty Barnes; none at
all. But where is Hannah? Cannot I speak with the poor girl? I owe her
half a year's wages. May I not see the honest creature, and pay her her
wages? I may never see her again perhaps; for they are resolved to break
my heart.
And they think you are resolved to break theirs: so tit for tat, Miss.
Impertinent I called her; and asked her, if it were upon such confident
terms that her service was to begin.
I was so very earnest to see the poor maid, that (to oblige me, as she
said) she went down with my request.
The worthy creature was as earnest to see me; and the favour was granted
in presence of Shorey and Betty.