She set it on a table and peered curiously at the garments inside. She reached in and fingered a thin blouse distastefully. "I don't even know why we hauled it up here," she remarked nastily. "It's all a bunch of cheap Wal-Mart crap."

Rachel spun, furious at the mocking words, even as she heard Maria draw in a hurt gasp.

"Sarah." Josh's voice was stern.

“We raised you better than that.

Apologize to Maria. Now.”

Sarah lifted her face. It was tense, the eyes red and hollow from lack of sleep, embarrassed and angry.

“But Daddy," she said.

“No. We don't treat others that way. And you know it. Maria may work for us. But she deserves your respect. She is not your inferior or your slave. Apologize." He stood, waiting. Maria fidgeted, unhappy with being caught in the middle of a family quarrel.

"Sorry," Sarah muttered sullenly. She refused to look at Maria.

"You're going to have to do better than that," her father said.

Sarah's lips tightened angrily. Rachel kept silent, watching the battle of wills play out. For a long, tense moment no one spoke. Then Sarah blinked, tears welling up in her eyes.

“I'm sorry, Maria," she said.

She faced the Hispanic woman bravely, though her face was miserable. "I was wrong to make fun of your clothes. I should remember not everyone has the advantages I do."

“It is forgotten," Maria said simply. Her face was open and warm, with no hint of resentment. Rachel made a note to talk to Sarah later. As an informal member of their household, Maria might be willing to overlook the slight, but no one could be as gently forgiving as she appeared to be. Sarah would have to work to mend fences

Sarah turned back to her father.

“May I be excused?" she asked. Her voice trembled.

Josh nodded. Sarah immediately turned and fled out the door. They could hear her clattering steps on the wooden boards of the staircase outside as she left.

“I want to apologize, too," Josh said to Maria.

“Sarah's not usually like this. I don't know what got into her. Unless..." he turned questioning eyes to Rachel, who did some quick mental math.

She shook her head.