Eliza Margaret Jane Humphreys

“ Tibbie Minch was lighting the gas over the hall-door, and opened it as she heard the steps. She started as she saw her mistress's face.
"Gude sakes!" she exclaimed; "sic a thing! What for hae ye been playactressing to-day ? I didna ken ye till I lookit at yer mouth."
Catherine Macpherson flounced up the stairs in a white heat of passion. This insolent familiar person must really be sent about her business. Human patience has its limits, even when allied to Christian virtues. ”

“ It was a man's voice I heard, and all that scuffling about the kitchen is most unseemly at your time o' life."
"Ye may leave my time o' life alane," said Tibbie. "I'm no half the age o' yoursel' . . . and as for scuffling, I dinna ken what ye mean. The young man is a quiet decent body, and comes of as gude a stock as ony in Galloway. And neither he nor I hae ony freends in London, so it's no sae wonderfu' if he calls now and then to have a crack wi' ane o' his ain folk."
Catherine gave a contemptuous sniff, and signified that Tibbie might retire. ”

“ She took up the supper-tray, and found her mistress in a fuming rage at her long delay.
"Tibbie, you'll just give up having your friends so often to see you! You cannot entertain them and attend to your work up-stairs. Besides, it's a rule of mine not to allow visitors in the kitchen."
"You told me your ainsel' that this was the first time in your life you had had a hoose to manage," replied the unabashed handmaiden ; "so ye canna ken verra much aboot rules. An' if ye hae your ain visitors, I dinna see why I may no hae mine. It's none sae often that ye need be raising objections." ”