Perkin would 'a' as't you to your
first meal with her; but she told me, when I as't what were to be
done with you, as how you must go to the room, and eat your
breakfast with the rest of us."
"As Mrs. Perkin pleases," said Mary.
She had before this come to understand the word of her Master,
that not what enters into a man defiles him, but only what comes
out of him; hence, that no man's dignity is affected by what
another does to him, but only by what he does, or would like to
do, himself.
She did, however, feel a little shy on entering "the room," where
all the livery and most of the women servants were already seated
at breakfast. Two of the men, with a word to each other, made
room for her between them, and laughed; but she took no notice,
and seated herself at the bottom of the table with her companion.
Everything was as clean and tidy as heart could wish, and Mary
was glad enough to make a good meal.
For a few minutes there was loud talking--from a general impulse
to show off before the stranger; then fell a silence, as if some
feeling of doubt had got among them. The least affected by it was
the footman who had opened the door to her: he had witnessed her
reception by Mrs. Perkin. Addressing her boldly, he expressed a
hope that she was not too much fatigued by her journey. Mary
thanked him in her own natural, straightforward way, and the
consequence was, that, when he spoke to her next, he spoke like a
gentleman--in the tone natural to him, that is, and in the
language of the parlor, without any mock-politeness.
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