Again, on another and smaller occasion, Miss Martin had seen the two sisters confronted with a scandalous overcharge for the carriage of some heavy luggage from Manchester.

Nelly was aghast; but she would have paid the sum demanded like a lamb, if Bridget had not stepped in--grappled with carter and railway company, while Nelly looked on, helpless but relieved.
It was clear that Nelly's inborn wish to be liked, her quivering responsiveness, together with a strong dose of natural indolence, made her hate disagreement or friction of any kind.

She was always yielding--always ready to give in.

But when Bridget in her harsh aggravating way fought things out and won, Nelly was indeed often made miserable, by the _ricochet_ of the wrath roused by Bridget's methods upon herself; but she generally ended, all the same, by realising that Bridget had done her a service which she could not have done for herself.
Hester Martin frankly thought the sister odious, and pitied the bride for having to live with her.

All the same she often found herself wondering how Nelly would ever manage the practical business of life alone, supposing loneliness fell to her at any time.