"But what else could I do, my dear? It's no use arguing with animals; they don't understand our language."
She began to cry, and sobbingly confessed that she could not help being afraid of a cruel man....
And the monster continued to dirty the drawing-room carpet.
I decided to take the trouble to train the dog, and did my utmost to convince her that a little perseverance does wonders with an intelligent animal.
She lost her temper, and for the first time drew my attention to the fact that the carpet belonged to her.
"Take it away, then; I never undertook to live in a pig-sty."
The carpet remained where it was, but the dog was watched more carefully; my remonstrances had some effect.
Nevertheless fresh catastrophes occurred.
In order to keep down our expenditure and save the trouble and expense of a kitchen fire, we decided to have a cold supper in the evening. Entering the kitchen accidentally on one occasion, I was amazed to find a roaring fire and the maid engaged in frying veal cutlets.
"Who are these cutlets for?"