Suddenly the new lady of the house flew at the bell, and rang it till the room seemed made of bells. As a servant entered, she cast the implement at him.
“Let all the servants come directly, rascal.”
“Oh, heavens!” sighed Don Pasquale.
Two servants and the steward came running in a moment after at a tremendous pace.
“Three! Three beggarly servants. Three. As for you, steward. Bow lower, sir, bow lower” (stamp of the foot); “listen to these my orders. Turn those cubs away at once. Get new servants, good looking young men that will do us credit; two dozen will do.”
“Oh, heaven!” exclaimed Don Pasquale.
“Steward,” (another stamp of the foot) “how dare you turn away. Let there be two new carriages this very evening in MY stables; as for MY new horses, I leave the choice to you. And as for these apartments, they are frightful, they shall be rebuilt. And as for this horrid furniture, it shall be burnt.”
“Oh, heaven! have you done ma’m?”
“No, man. Steward (greater stamp of the foot than ever,) how dare you not keep your eyes on me? Let everything, everywhere, always be in the first style, so that people may respect us. Begone, fool!”
“And pray now ma’m,” suggested the don, “who pays?”