I thought housemaids got married sometimes.' 'Human nature is stronger than tyranny.' 'But what does all this mean?
You are not a housemaid, and you have not got a mistress ?' 'Not exactly.

But at present;--if I say my outward woman you'll know what I mean perhaps.' 'I think I shall.' 'Well; my present outward woman stands to me in lieu of the housemaid's broom, and the united authority of the Captain and Mrs.Crompton make up the mistress between them.

And the worst of it all is, that though I have to endure the tyranny, I have not got the follower.

It is as hard upon Mr.Shand as it is upon me.' 'Shand, I suppose, can take care of himself.' 'No doubt;--and so in real truth can I.I can stand apart and defy them all; and as I look at them looking at me, and almost know with what words they are maligning me, I can tell myself that they are beneath me, and that I care nothing for them.

I shall do nothing which will enable any one to interfere with me.