The Way of a Man with a Maid by Anonymous

Author:Anonymous [Anonymous]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Limited
Published: 2012-05-18T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Two days after this memorable afternoon I received the following letter from Alice.

My darling Jack – I must write and tell you the sequel to yesterday’s lovely afternoon at the Snuggery.

Fanny didn’t say a word on the way home, but was evidently deeply thinking and getting more and more angry. She went straight to her room and I to mine. I did not expect she would resume her duties, in fact I rather anticipated she would come in to say she was going away at once! But in about ten minutes she came in as usual and proceeded to do her work just as if nothing had happened, only she wouldn’t speak unless it was absolutely necessary.

At eight o’clock she brought me the dinner menu as usual for my orders. I told her I felt too tired to dress and go down, so would dine in my own room, and that she must dine with me, as she was looking so tired and upset generally. She looked surprised, and I think she hesitated about accepting my invitation, but did so.

At dinner of course she had to talk. I saw she had refreshing and appetising food and she made a good dinner. I also induced her to drink a little Burgundy, which seemed to do her a lot of good, and she gradually became less sulky.

When the table was cleared she was going away, but I asked her to stay and rest comfortably if she had done her work for the day. To my surprise she seemed glad to do so. I installed her in a comfortable chair and made her chat with me about things in general, carefully avoiding anything that might recall the events of the afternoon!

After some little time so passed, she rose and stood before me in a most respectful attitude and said: ‘Miss Alice, you’ve always been a very kind mistress to me; you’ve treated me with every consideration, you’ve paid me well, you’ve given me light work. Would you mind telling me why you were so awfully cruel to me this afternoon?’

I was very surprised, but fortunately ideas came!

‘Certainly I will, Fanny,’ I replied, ‘I think you are entitled to know. Come and sit by me here and we can talk it over nicely.’

I was then on the little sofa with padded back and ends, which you know just holds two nicely. Fanny hesitated for a moment and then sat down.

‘I’ve always tried to be a good mistress to you, Fanny,’ I said gravely, ‘because you have been a very good maid to me. But of late there has been something wrong with you; your temper has been so queer that, though you have never disobeyed me, you have made your obedience very unpleasant; and I found myself wondering whether I had not better send you away. But I didn’t want to lose you and I liked you for yourself very much’ (here

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