Containing Scenes of Altercation, of No Very Uncommon Kind
- As soon as Mrs. Honour leaves Sophia, she begins thinking things over.
- Is this all really such a good idea?
- If she told Squire Western right now about Sophia's plans, her reward would be immediate.
- If she goes with Sophia, anything could happen—who knows when Sophia would be able to repay her?
- Still, London—it would be exciting to see the city.
- As Mrs. Honour is thinking through the pros and cons of helping out Sophia as she promised, Mrs. Western's maid comes in.
- Mrs. Western's maid has always thought of herself as better than the other servants.
- Her birth is slightly higher, she makes more money, and she has been to London.
- So when she sees Mrs. Honour, she starts saying some snide things that Mrs. Honour won't take lying down.
- The two quickly get into a fight.
- Mrs. Western walks by and asks her maid what's wrong.
- The maid says that Mrs. Honour called Mrs. Western an "ugly old cat" (7.8.4).
- Mrs. Western demands to know how Mrs. Honour would dare to say such a thing.
- Mrs. Honour is so mad that she says that "somebody" is not as pretty as Sophia, and Mrs. Western "[knows] that as well as I" (7.8.5).
- Mrs. Western promises to go to Squire Western to get Mrs. Honour fired.
- Mrs. Honour wishes Mrs. Western luck in finding servants, if she fires everyone who thinks she's ugly. (Oh, snap!)
- As Mrs. Western stalks off, the two maids get into a physical brawl.
- Mrs. Honour wins.