“Julia,” said Mrs. Pippy firmly, “in this house you take your orders from me. When Miss Larrieau is properly dressed she may receive Mr. Pritchard, but not before.”
“Julia is my servant. She takes orders from no one but me,” Tamea warned Mrs. Pippy. “Dan Pritchard gave Julia to me.”
“Julia is not a slave, to be given away at will, Miss Larrieau. She must be consulted in such transactions.”
“Did you not accept me as your mistress, Julia?” There could be no evasion.
“I did that,” Julia confessed weakly.
“Summon Monsieur Dan Pritchard. Take no heed of this woman—this Pippy.”
“If you disobey me, Julia,” Mrs. Pippy warned, “I shall be forced to dismiss you without a reference.”
“If you disobey me, Julia,” Tamea countered, “I shall dismiss you but not until you have been beaten. In my country that is how bad servants are treated.”
Julia appealed to Maisie. “What shall I do, Miss Morrison?”
Maisie sighed. “It is apparent, Julia,” she replied, “that Mrs. Pippy and Tamea have not hit it off very well together. Mrs. Pippy’s position in this house must not, she very properly feels, be questioned. Tamea, who has doubtless never heretofore had her authority questioned, has elected to make an issue of the seat of authority. We will seek a compromise.” She turned to Tamea and smiled upon her kindly. “Will you please me, Tamea, by declining to oppose Mrs. Pippy’s authority in this house?”