"But do you mean the tea-kettle? Mrs. Goodenough never fills that. I like to fill it with fresh water when I am going to make the tea."
"Yes, ma'am. But I never thought of that."
"And I have told you not to use that kettle, you know, except for making tea."
"Yes, ma'am. But I forgot. I'm very sorry."
Mrs. Eyre's interview with her husband's employers had been a trying one, and she was feeling low and tired. It is not easy to be quite patient when one is feeling thus, so it was with less than her usual gentleness that she said,—
"If you minded what I say to you, you would not have spoiled my nice little kettle. I hope you have water boiling to make tea, for I am very tired and thirsty."
"Yes, ma'am—at least, it will boil soon. I did not think of it at first."
"Well, I'll come down as soon as I have given your master a message I have for him."
She went into the parlour, where Mr. Eyre, Flo and Zelica, were keeping each other company.
It was half an hour or so before Mrs. Eyre came down to the kitchen. Hetty had the tea-tray ready and the kettle boiling; but, alas! when Mrs. Eyre glanced at the said kettle, she perceived that it was her pretty little bronze one, which certainly never was meant to be put on the fire; and the round cover of the stove was off, the poor little kettle being well thrust down among the coals.