The idea of forbidding future
intercourse with Jane had come to him quite suddenly; it was by no
means his intention to make his order permanent, for Jane had now
and then brought little presents which were useful, but just now he
felt a satisfaction in asserting authority. Jane should understand
that he regarded her censure of him with high displeasure.
'You don't mean that, Bob?' murmured Pennyloaf.
'Of course I do. And let me catch you disobeying me! I should think
you might find better friends than a girl as used to be the
Peckovers' dirty little servant.'
Bob turned up his nose and sniffed the air. And Pennyloaf, in spite
of the keenest distress, actually felt that there was something in
the objection, thus framed! She herself had never been a servant--
never; she had never sunk below working with the needle for sixteen
hours a day for a payment of ninepence. The work-girl regards a
domestic slave as very distinctly her inferior.
'But that's a long while ago,' she ventured to urge, after
reflection.
'That makes no difference. Do as I tell you, and don't argue.'
It was not often that visitors sought Bob at his home of an evening,
but whilst this dialogue was still going on an acquaintance made his
arrival known by a knock at the door.
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