The Old Woman and Her Maids

 A certain Old Woman had several Maids, whom she used to call to their work every morning at the crowing of the Cock.

 

The Maids, finding it grievous to have their sweet sleep disturbed so early, killed the Cock, thinking that when he was quiet they might enjoy their warm beds a little longer.

 

The Old Woman, however, vexed¹ at the loss of the Cock, and suspecting them to be concerned in his death, from that time made them rise soon after midnight!

 

1 vexed   

adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》