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Tracy Park by Mary Jane Holmes
page 34 of 648 (05%)
Dolly objected, and her husband replied:

'Get another girl, then; three of them if you like. What matter how many
girls we have so long as Arthur pays for them, and he is bound to do
that. He said so in his letter. You are altogether too economical. I've
told you so a hundred times, and now there is no need of saving. I want
to see you a lady of silks and satins like Mrs. Atherton. Pump that
girl. I tell you, and find out what ladies do!'

This was Frank's advice to his wife, and as far as in her lay she acted
upon it, and whatever Susan told her was done by Mrs. Atherton at Brier
Hill, she tried to do at Tracy Park: all except staying out of the
kitchen. That, from her nature, she could not and would not do.
Consequently she was constantly changing cooks, and frequently took the
helm herself, to the great disgust of her husband, who managed at last
to imbue her with his own ideas of things.

In course of time most of the neighbors who had any claim to society
called at the park, and among them Mrs. Crawford. But Mrs. Tracy had
then reached a point from which she looked down upon one who had been
housekeeper where she was now mistress, and whose daughter's good name
was under a cloud, as there were some who did not believe that Harold
Hastings had ever made her his wife. When told that Mrs. Crawford had
asked for her Mrs. Tracy sent word that she was engaged, and that if
Mrs. Crawford pleased she would give her errand to the girl.

'I have no errand. I came to call,' was Mrs. Crawford's reply, and she
never crossed the threshold of her old home again until the March winds
were blowing and there was a little boy in the nursery at the park.

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