The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-01-14

."'' Neleh was nonpuSSed lie hard
ly knew what TO say. He fualy deter
mined to wait until some plan should
strike him calculated 20 humble his wif.'s
pride. \: present, therefore, he said
nothing, but ate his dinner in gloomy 81
lence.
Meanwhile, his wife continued to chat
IN u lively strain with her mother, and
then frequent laughter Jared very dscor-
dainty on Mr.. MeIen's nerves.
Shortly after dinner, Mr.. Mcl!en contry-
ed to see Bridge, withou, his w,fe's lnow
edge.
"B;idge,," said lc, "I find that for two
days past, diun.r has beet ed up DC.
fore | come hone. Hereafter. YOU must
wait uu,l return before dong So"
"But the misthress told me-" SAID
Bridget.
81 know that" said Mr.. MeIIen "but
you are bound TO obey Inc rather than
her
'Sir T. sard the bewildered Bridce;
who did aOi comprehend at all.
"l will tell you what expect you TO
do, said her master. 40 morrow, for
example. shall not be at home Til four
O'Clock. Four. remember. On no ac-
count must you serve up dinner before
that time
but what shall SAY TO mistbress,
when she tells me !" asked Bridget. with
her eyes wide pen in as,onshment.
e"Say , You must tell her that for
badc you doing it. And YOU may tell
her, also. that l threatened to dismiss Won
immediately, if you failed to comply With
my directions. Will you remember tha, Z"
"iIl try, answered Rridger, whose fac
ul,ies, never very bright, were completely
thrown inio confusion by her antagogistie
duties, and the idea she had got to DISC
hey her mistress by her masters positive
command.
"Och. what will ! DO 7" she said 10 her
self However, she wisely determined
not 10 think Of it at all till the time came.
,,ri.i %ihs,s" ,ni thought II Mr.. Mislie9. Yi,t a
will set matters right. Madam will fiud
that am not so easily thwarted. No !;
Marmadnke MeIen is not one TO be fright
oned 10y woman's vaporing, or inclined
To summit tamey TO pctticoat government.
| would give something" he thought,
chuckhng inwardy, "to see how she will
ta,e it when Bridget refuses TO obey her,
10y my direction. She will begin TO find
out whe she has to deal with then! She
doesn't know Marmaduke MeIIen yet !"
The next day, Mrs. MelIen, at the usual
time, directed Bridget 10 serve up dinner.
Il can't ma'am," said the perpexei
handmaden.
Cant 7" repeated Mrs. Mellen, with
some surprise. "What do. you. mean,
Bridge, r. e9a
"lt's my directions Of master" she re
piled.
"Then he has forbidden you 70 follow
my directions T.
YES, ma'am. He told me he should
uot he home until four, and he would
send me away il btook up dinner before
that time"
"Indeed :" said Mrs. Melen, coollN;-
"he is interfering beyond his province-
However, you are to obey me, not him.
You must take up tie dinner now"
lie will send me away il do" said
Bridget.
"And l. vii; send YOU away if you
don't, said her mistress.
"Och, what will do 7" exclaimed
Bridget, in ludicrous djsmay. "Itt turn
ed away live got to be, anyhow, whether
| do it or not.'
Better obey me, Bridget. II he should
turn you away, you shall be back again
in less than week, and meanwhile,
will pay you wages !. but il / turn you
away. Il will be for good.''
1t did not take loug for Bridget to see
on which side her bread was buttered.--
Relieved from her embarrassment, she
hustled about aud, al the hour appointed,
dinner was on the table.
At iour O'clock, when Mr.. Me!len re
turned, nothing was 10 be seen Of the
dInuertable.. This he hailed. AS a good
omen. Looking triumphantly at his
wife
"You may order up dinner now, Mrs.
MelIen."
Dinner J" exclaimed his wife, With an
AIR Of surprise. lis it possible that you
have not eaten dinner, al four o'clock I"
h"e f0b cebcu tnQulTeu
Mr.. Meilen, W an appalling voice.
Certainly" said his wife, cooly coD,in.
uing the work upon which she was en-
gagged. "Tbe table wac cleared two hours
since"
May ! enquire Il Bridget served up
the dinner 7" asked Mr.. Me!len, with an
ominous look.
"Of course you may" said Mrs. Mellen.
"What objection eau have r.
MADAM" said Mr.. MeIlen, in voice
Of thunder enough Of this trifling. Did
Bridget serve up dinner :"
"ResIly," said the mother in.lsw, "you
should no,-----p But here her daogh.
Ter interrupted her.
"Good gracious, Mr. Mellen," she added
.'yoa doo't suppose am deaf, do you
] couId hear YOU very distinctly Il you,
spoke considerably lower. But what wss
your question 7" v's@t
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