"Jarvis," she said, "me dog `MICHAEL' is outside there, tied up to
the door. He's had a fight an' he's tired. Will ye put him to bed
for me like a good boy?"
Jarvis went out disgustedly, untied the dog and put him in the
kennel that had been specially made for him.
Poor Jarvis's life this last month had been most unhappy. The smooth
and peaceful order of things in the house had departed. The coming
of the "niece" had disturbed everything. Many were the comments
below stairs on the intruder. The following is an example of the
manner in which Peg was regarded by the footman and Mrs.
Chichester's own maid, Bennett.
"A NIECE!" cried Bennett, sarcastically, just after Peg's arrival.
"So they SAY!" retorted Jarvis, mysteriously.
"What do you make of her?"
"Well, every family I've served and my mother before me, had a
family skeleton. SHE is OURS."
"Why, she hadn't a rag to her back when she came here. I'd be
ashamed to be dressed as she was. You should have seen the one she
goes to Mass in!"
"I did," said Jarvis indignantly. "All wrapped up in the 'Irish
Times.' Then I got ragged for putting her in the kitchen. Looked too
good for her. And that dog! Can't go near it without it trying to
bite me. I don't approve of either of 'em comin' into a quiet family
like ours.
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