She was housekeeper to an infirm old farmer; that is to say, she superintended the dairy and the kitchen, and received hardly as much as a cook in a London establishment.

Like the sons, she was finely developed physically, and had more of the manners of a lady than seemed possible under the circumstances.
Her father's principles of farming were much the same as his plan of housekeeping and family government.

It consisted of never spending any money.

He bought no machines.

The reaping machine was the one exception, and a bitter point with the old man.