Mrs. Wiggins had been one of the much-visited relatives.

"The hidee," she grumbled, "of 'avin' sich a little trollop round hunder my
feet!"

Jane, therefore, solaced herself by watching the "cheap girl" till her mother
appeared.

Mrs. Mumpson sailed majestically in and took the rocking chair, mentally
thankful that it had survived the crushing weight imposed upon it the evening
before. Mrs. Wiggins did not drop a courtesy. Indeed, not a sign of
recognition passed over her vast, immobile face. Mrs. Mumpson was a little
embarrassed. "I hardly know how to comport myself toward that female," she
thought. "She is utterly uncouth. Her manners are unmistakerbly those of a
pauper. I think I will ignore her today. I do not wish my feelings ruffled
or put out of harmony with the sacred duties and motives which actuate me."

Mrs. Mumpson therefore rocked gently, solemnly, and strange to say, silently,
and Mrs. Wiggins also proceeded with her duties, but not in silence, for
everything in the room trembled and clattered at her tread. Suddenly she
turned on Jane and said, "'Ere, you little baggage, go and tell the master
breakfast's ready."

Mrs. Mumpson sprang from her chair, and with a voice choked with indignation,
gasped, "Do you dare address my offspring thus?"

"Yer vat?"

"My child, my daughter, who is not a pauper, but the offspring of a most
respecterble woman and respecterbly connected. I'm amazed, I'm dumfoundered,