"Oh, Hetty, you really are too provoking!" she cried. "To use the bronze kettle! It never was meant to go on the fire! It was one of my wedding presents, and I would not have had it spoiled for anything! Surely there are plenty of common kettles."
"I'm very sorry, ma'am," began Hetty; but poor, tired, worried Mrs. Eyre replied sharply,—
"Where is the use of being sorry, if you go from one careless thing to another? There, I've made the tea. I shall come down for the tray in five minutes. Pour the water out of that kettle. Hetty, do use your eyes; don't you see that this one is full? Pour it away down the sink. Now clean the kettle thoroughly; don't leave off until you have it perfectly clean."
She walked to the door, but paused there to say, "You have seen Mrs. Goodenough cleaning it; are you sure you know what to use?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Hetty tearfully.
When Mrs. Eyre came for the tea-tray, she saw Hetty rubbing away with great vigour, crying all the time. Being really provoked, she did not speak, but took up her tray and walked off. Tea over, she told Lina to call Hetty to come for the tray, for she was really very tired. Hetty came, bringing with her the unfortunate kettle, bronze no longer. For "Heedless Hetty" had used Bath brick, instead of the proper powder, and her strong young arms enabling her to rub powerfully, she had rubbed off every morsel of bronze, and the kettle was now bright brass.
"There, ma'am, see how bright I have made it!" Hetty said.
Mr. Eyre looked up from his book, saw the kettle, saw, too, his wife's face of horror. He burst out laughing, and, after a moment, Mrs. Eyre laughed too.
"Bright, certainly, Hetty; but I'm afraid it won't match its stand any more. What have you done to it?"
"Oh dear!" cried Hetty. "If I haven't Bath-bricked it! Oh, ma'am, I am—"