The cook at the Hall, a superior person--though lightly esteemed by Mrs.Cloam--had long been ambitious to have a voice in the selection of her raw material.

If anything was good, who got the credit?
Mr.Swipes, immediately.

But if everything was bad, as more often happened, who received the blame?
Mary Knuckledown.

Her lawful name was "Knuckleup," but early misfortunes had reduced her to such mildness that her name became converted--as she expressed it--in harmony with her nature.

Facts having generally been adverse to her, she found some comfort in warm affection for their natural enemies and ever-victorious rivals--words.