His Wife. 21 



CHAPTER II. 



HIS FAMILY AND CASTE. 



The interior of the cottage is exquisitely clean ; it 

 has that bright pleasant appearance which is only- 

 possible when the housewife feels a pride in her 

 duties, and goes about them with a cheerful heart. 

 Not a speck of dust can be seen upon the furniture, 

 amongst which is a large old-fashioned sofa: the 

 window panes are clear and transparent — a certain 

 sign of loving care expended on the place, as on the 

 other hand dirty windows are an indication of neglect, 

 so much so that the character of the cottager may 

 almost be guessed from a glance at her glass. The 

 keeper's wife is a buxom vivacious dame, whose man- 

 ners from occasional contact with the upper ranks — 

 the ladies from the great house sometimes look in for a 

 few minutes to chat with so old a servant of the family 

 — are above what are usually found in her station. 

 She receives her callers — and they are many — with 



