The next morning Alice gave her mistress warning. It was quite unexpected, and she looked at her aghast.
“Alice,” she said at length, “you’re never going to leave me at such a time!”
“I’m sorry it don’t suit you, ma’am, but I must.”
“Why, Alice? What is the matter? Has Sophy been troublesome?”
“No, ma’am; there’s no harm in that child.”
“Then what can it be, Alice? Perhaps you are going to be married sooner than you expected?”
Alice gave her chin a little toss, pressed her lips together, and was silent.
“I have always been kind to you,” resumed her mistress.
“I’m sure, ma’am, I never made no complaints!” returned Alice, but as she spoke she drew herself up straighter than before.
“Then what is it?” said her mistress.
“The fact is, ma’am,” answered the girl, almost fiercely, “I cannot any longer endure a state of domestic slavery.”
“I don’t understand you a bit better,” said Mrs. Greatorex, trying, but in vain, to smile, and therefore looking angrier than she was.
“I mean, ma’am—an’ I see no reason as I shouldn’t say it, for it’s the truth—there’s a worm at the root of society where one yuman bein’ ’s