He had supposed his sister, young as she was, knew more of the world than to make an arrangement with a servant which would put her, in many respects, on an equality with themselves.

He was very much annoyed, but he would not be angry with Miriam, if he could help it, nor would he put her in the embarrassing position of revoking the agreement with this American woman, probably a farmer's daughter, and, in her own opinion, as good as anybody.

But, although he might yield at present, he determined to take the important matter of engaging domestic servants into his own hands.

His sister had not yet the necessary judgment for that sort of thing.
"Miriam," said he, "for how long have you engaged this woman ?" "Nothing at all has been said about time," she answered.
"Very well, then," said he, "she can come to the table to-night and to-morrow morning, for, I suppose, if I object, she will go off and leave you again without anybody, but to-morrow she must be told that she cannot eat with us; and if she does not like that, she must leave, and I will go to the city and get you a proper servant.

The hay is in now, and there is no more important work to which I could give a day.