Elders and Betters Read Online Free PDF

are both of them nicer than most of us,” said Bernard.
    Reuben gave the laugh that he felt was appropriate, though Ethel and Cook had a larger measure of his affection than anyone but Bernard and Jenney.
    â€œNow keep your tongues off them for the moment,” said Anna, in her rough manner. “Here is Ethel with the tea.”
    â€œI had muffins for tea yesterday,” said Bernard.
    â€œOh, I forgot to have them toasted,” said Jenney, springing to her feet. “I can see about it in a minute.”
    Ethel produced a covered dish, with a fleeting smile at Bernard.
    â€œOh, I am glad you remembered, Ethel,” said Jenney.
    â€œIt was Cook,” said Ethel, turning to the door to hide her smile of conscious pride.
    â€œAnd what more suitable person?” said Anna, keeping her eyes on the door until it closed. “Is nothing further removed from Cook than her natural duties? Ethel should put the tray in front of me. Will she ever learn her business?”
    â€œOh, I know how you all like it,” said Jenney proceeding to pour out the tea.
    â€œExperience does nothing for Anna in that matter,” said Esmond.
    â€œI take the precaution of asking you,” said his sister.
    â€œIt is tiresome to explain the same things day after day.”
    â€œThat should hardly be too great a drain upon your energy.”
    â€œIt is upon my patience.”
    â€œWe may all come to the end of that quality,” said Benjamin.
    â€œWell, it is nice to have one’s little ways remembered,” said Claribel. “After all, they are the outcome of one’s personality.”
    â€œPass the muffins to Reuben,” said Jenney, as if she were speaking to children who might keep them to themselves.
    Her tone irritated Anna and Esmond, who made no movement; Bernard would not leave his easy chair; Claribel assumed that a woman did not wait upon a boy; Benjamin rose and handed the muffins to his son and then to Jenney.
    â€œConsidering the standard of your manners, Father, you might have passed them to Jenney first,” said Anna, who was more at ease with Benjamin than his other children, partly because she did not follow his mind or try to do so. This effort seemed to involve his sons in his own uneasiness.
    â€œI did as she asked,” said Benjamin, returning to his seat.
    â€œJenney gets much more obedience than I ever get.”
    â€œWhat claim have you to it?” said Esmond.
    â€œI am supposed to be the mistress of the house.”
    â€œThat position involves certain functions.”
    â€œOh, does it?” said Anna. “Well, who arranged the house, and planned the move, and was here to receive the maids and assign the rooms, and do the hundred and one things that had to be done?”
    â€œJenney was that person,” said Esmond.
    â€œNo, she only worked under my direction. And Father and I chose the house by ourselves. Nobody else was with us.”
    Esmond glanced round the room and subsided almost with a nod to himself, as if he could credit this statement.
    â€œYou may leave the house, if you have a better one,” said Benjamin.
    â€œAll in good time,” muttered Esmond.
    â€œThen let your criticism wait for that.”
    â€œI suppose we shall see the other household to-morrow,” said Claribel. “I wonder which of us is engaging their thoughts.”
    â€œOh, of course you will,” said Jenney, in an excited manner. “What a sudden plunge into a new life! I wonder how you will all manage in it.” She felt Benjamin’s glance and hastened to retrieve any false step. “I expect you will all enjoy being together.”
    â€œWe must see that we do so,” said Benjamin. “Anything else would dispose of the good in our presence.”
    â€œAunt Sukey will impose her demands, if I make no mistake,” said Anna.
    â€œI hope you make none,” said her father. “We have come here to fulfil