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which had so often been urged and repelled, in the week that they had spent together upon their arrival from France; repeated the same sneers, revived the same suspicions, and recurred to the same rude interrogatories or offensive insinuations.
At meals, the humble companion was always helped last; even when there were gentlemen, even when there were children at the table; and always to what was worst; to what was rejected, as ill-cooked, or left, as spoilt and bad. No question was ever asked of what she chose or what she disliked. Sometimes she was even utterly forgotten; and, as no one ventured to remind Mrs. Ireton of any omission, her helpless protegée, upon such occasions, rose half famished from the inhospitable board.
Upon the entrance of any visitors, not satisfied to let the humble companion glide gently away, the haughty patroness called ont, in a tone of command, "You may go to your room now: I shall send for you when I am at leisure."
