There was no place where they could bathe; the whole of the river-bank was trampled by the cattle and open to the road; even walks were impossible, for the cattle strayed into the garden through a gap in the hedge, and there was one terrible bull, who bellowed, and therefore might be expected to gore somebody.

There were no proper cupboards for their clothes; what cupboards there were either would not close at all, or burst open whenever anyone passed by them.

There were no pots and pans; there was no copper in the washhouse, nor even an ironing-board in the maids' room.