"Upon my word!" exclaimed my husband. "That is a beautiful illustration, sure enough, of my remarks about what people may suffer in the good opinion of others, through the conduct of their servants in this very thing. No doubt Mrs. Jordon, as you suggest, is guiltless of a good deal of blame now laid at her door. It was a fair opportunity for you to give her some hints on the subject. You might have opened her eyes a little, or at least diminished the annoyance you had been, and still are enduring."
"Yes, the opportunity was a good one, and I ought to have improved it. But I did not and the whole system, sanctioned or not sanctioned by Mrs. Jordon, is in force against me."
"And will continue, unless some means be adopted by which to abate the nuisance."
"Seriously, Mr. Smith," said I, "I am clear for removing from the neighborhood."
But Mr. Smith said,
"Nonsense, Jane!" A form of expression he uses, when he wishes to say that my proposition or suggestion is perfectly ridiculous, and not to be thought of for a moment.
"What is to be done?" I asked. "Bear the evil?"
"Correct it, if you can."
"And if not, bear it the best I can?"
"Yes, that is my advice."