feel that I could make such a picture if I only knew made under my eye in the bed of the Tees. Notice how to convey my own ideas and impressions." the rock down beneath the water, the liquid-amber

“Make a picture! Yes, as pretty a one as ever stream, which Sir Walter Scott sung about. Someadorned canvas," I said, on the impulse of the mo- thing like color, that. ment.

In less than twelve months she painted far better “ Now you are laughing at me," she said, sadly, than her tutor, who before half that time had passed not taking my compliment, nor noticing the flush on was her slave in everything. I have sat and watched my face. “ Everybody laughs at me. Aunt calls her and loved her like a young fellow can love, and me stupid, and the girls in the class nudge each she knew it. But if ever there was the faintest atother and titter at what they call my impossible tempt at pointed homage on my part, she would trees and eccentric animals.”

pooh-pooh the whole thing with an indifference to “I was not laughing, I assure you, Miss Viner," my feelings which often struck me as heartless in I said, seriously; " I should be the last to laugh at the extreme. Sometimes I went home half mad you, I who admire you so much, and"

with rage and wounded pride, and determined to She had remained behind after the class had leave the place forever; but morning brought hope, broken up, and her sweet, confiding manner to me and longing to see Edith, longing to be at her side, was irresistible. I fear I forgot my position as tutor to hear her speak, ay, if only to wince at her cynientirely. I stammered out some hurried, silly dec- cal laugh, and her oft-repeated saying, that “love laration of love, and felt as if my very existence de- was the greatest nonsense she had ever heard of, pended upon the effect it would make. I can re-painting the grandest of the arts." member the sensation now, gray old bachelor as I I never could comprehend her. By degrees I am; and I have not forgotten the awful feeling of came to think of her in the light of a sort of intelchagrin and disappointment at the ringing laugh lectual Undine, before the human soul tempered the which greeted my outburst of romance.

waywardness of the fairy. She seemed to possess " Why, what a silly young man you must be, Mr. everything that makes woman lovely and lovable, Westwood. It is really too absurd. Here am I but the one thing above all others most essential, – anxious that you should teach me how to paint, and a woman's heart. you actually begin to talk about love, like Don One morning I received a note from her aunt, in Quixote, or a person in a play."

which I was informed that the lessons must cease, as And the lively, arch, round, supple, bright-eyed Miss Viner was going to leave the northern city. girl laughed again with intense amusement. I was I hurried to the house, and met on the doorstep a piqued; she had made me look foolish ; she had big, mustached, dark fellow. I asked for Miss ridiculed my tenderest hopes. I had pictured some- Viner, as usual. She came running down stairs ; thing quite different to this, and had seen myself, and at her call of “Edward ! Edward, dear!” the by her desire, suing for her hand at the feet of that gentleman turned round and followed her into the old griffin, her aunt, in the cathedral close.

drawing-room. “Now don't be so silly any more, Mr. Westwood, “Come in, Mr. Westwood; pray come in," she and I will promise never to mention what has oc- said. “Let me introduce you to Captain Howard, curred. It is too absurd, you know.”

of the Bombay Artillery. 'Mr. Westwood, — Cap" Well, perhaps it is," I said, without understand- tain Howard." ing her, but with an intense sense of being absurdly We bowed stiffly to each other, and I looked for foolish.

an explanation. “There,” she said, passing from the subject with “I see you are puzzled, Mr. Westwood. Tothe supremest indifference, - please to look at that, morrow Captain Howard is to be my husband, and and tell me if you think I shall ever paint, and will we leave here en route for India the next day." you teach me? I have asked aunt, and she is will 1 I shall not attempt to describe my feelings; I fear ing to fit me up a studio of my own."

they were made very apparent at the time. Anger From beneath her cloak she produced a bit of oil and contempt had, surely, some share in the exprescolor,— a pool reflecting the drooping branches of sion of my poor stupid face on that occasion; but I a beech-tree. It was an autumn sketch, full of could only see cool indifference on Edith's. rough unstudied effects of light and shade that for I turned to go away, but Miss Viner prevented the moment astonished me mightily. There was me. evidence of the amateur; but the vigor, the depth “Here,” she said, “is a little present before I go. of tone of the unstudied touches were almost start. I hope you will treasure it, - my palette. I shall

never paint again.” This is yours?" I said, coldly.

There was something peculiarly sad in the tone of “Yes," she said, bending her head, and looking voice in which she said, “I shall never paint again.” confused.

The next day she had left the old city with her “ It is very clever; you will paint,” I said. husband. How I wished myself a boy again, paint

“0, thank you, thank you, Mr. Westwood," she ing puppets in that little back room in the western said, looking up with great earnestness. “I was city! I have painted many a one since, for that afraid you would laugh at it; aunt called it a red matter. and yellow daub."

By the way, I have lately learnt that when Miss Here is her secret, then, I thought. Her genius Jinks died, the Chalkses purchased the “Gallery of has made itself manifest to her: she is under its Arts," and combined the two establishments. How persistent influence.

little we know who will step into our shoes when we "I would give the world to paint. I will succeed, are gone! Perhaps our greatest enemy may quietly and you must help me.”

seat himself in our own chair in the favorite fireside I did help her, during many a happy, happy hour, corner. Thank Heaven! science cannot penetrate in that studio overlooking the river, and in the dear the future. We look upon the tangled weft as we old Greta woods, and on the grand Teesdale moors. spin it; but we know nothing of the lines, and curves, That bit beneath Tito by the fireplace is a study she and broken threads to come.

ling.

greatness, and we will do nothing that shall be un- | planters who live on yonder bank, and the Brava pleasant to you nor to your ladies.'

came to us and said, Look bere ; if you will not “ Well, Doyle, and then ?"

on board that barbarian ship we will kill you and * Look here," he answered. “ She is still very your wives and children, and burn your farms an abusive, for this is what she said to me in reply : lay waste your fields. And so we took counsel to • Look here, you white-faced dog, who alone appear gether amongst ourselves, and we said, Look bere: to understand the flowery language. Say, what fur- it will be better for us to trust ourselves in the hands ther insult will you offer me? Tell me, where is of the chiefs of the great English nation, for they est my Lord Wang? Have you killed him, or do you but take our lives, and if we refuse to go our wire reserve him for the tseen tseè ?'” This signifies and children will be murdered too. Now, therefore, “ the thousand cuttings," the mode of executing we beseech you, O ever-to-be-venerated teacher, state criminals. They are tied to stakes, and slowly I ask his Foreign Excellency not to deal too hardh hacked to pieces; the executioners contriving, with with us.' horrible ingenuity, to defer the fatal stroke as long “ And so I said, "Why, look here; as you can as possible.

tainly are not the men who took the junk, you may And so," he continued, “I said to her, "Look go. When you get on shore go to the chiefs of the here, we do not fight with pretty women, and as Braves, and say to them, Look here; these foreignfor Wang, he has deserted you and escaped ; but | ers are wise beyond measure, their eyes are as hawks you will doubtless see him before the end of this eyes, and it is useless to practise deceits. Send of

no more false messengers, for it will avail you notaThis conversation continued for some time, much

ing.'” in the same strain, but occasionally interrupted by These poor fellows were overjoyed at their esa prolonged howl from the old woman in the corner. cape. The Braves could hardly have been a bles

Having thus endeavored, with but little success, ing to them. In about an hour some more men to reassure these unhappy ladies, we returned and came with the very same story. They were soon attended to our other prisoners. They were hud- found out, and allowed to return with a similar mesdled together on the quarter-deck, vainly trying to sage. During the night a third came, with a like keep themselves warm, for the night wind was very result; this time, however, the story had been 73cold. At first they were in a great state of terror, ried a little but now seemed more resigned to the horrible fate On the following morning a fighting-boat was that they had no doubt was to await them

coming down the river to join the fleet. It was de Sails were brought to cover them, but these they termined to intercept her. With this object we vigorously rejected, thinking that we meant to weighed anchor and stood in close to the mouth of smother them. With great difficulty, and to their the creek, where we stopped, and manned and vast astonishment, they were made to understand armed boats. We remained close alongside hidden that our only object was to make them comfortable, by the gunboat, until the report of one of the hom and not to torture them. Treatment such as this itzers gave us the signal to start. The fighting, junk they had never heard of captives receiving; still then being within easy distance, we were quickly less could they believe it possible at the hands of the alongside her, and without much difficulty we made Western devils, who are naturally considered to be ourselves masters of the vessel. She was brought seven times more malignant than devils are wont to alongside, her crew transferred, and a search of the be. When at last they did understand our motives, vessel was made. We were in luck again, for there it was pleasant to see how gratefully they stowed was half a million of copper cash on board. This, themselves away under the sails.

it appeared, was for the pay of the army I then sent for a stiff glass of grog and offered it! We then returned to Hankow with our prizes in to them, telling them that it was the " yang shoo," tow, and restored the merchants' jank to her the foreign wine. Until they saw me taste it no one owners; the other two, with the prisoners, we kept would touch it, and then one ventured. He was for about a week. delighted; his little black eyes twinkled and opened! Every morning and evening we visited the ladies wide with astonishment. The glass was passed to ask if they wanted anything. At first they were round, and they all said, “ It is good, it is good ; his as wild as possible, and Mrs. Wang used frequently Foreign Excellency's wine is very good.”

to start up and call out in a commanding tone, About this time a boat was seen approaching - Ho, there, guards; take away these barbarians. through the darkness. The sentries hailed, and the but by degrees they got tamer, and a circumstance men in the boat answered, according to Doyle, occurred which made us all great friends. After " Look here; we want to come alongside; we have this we used to supply her with wine, lend her ile something of importance to communicate.” Three lustrated books, and amuse her with our epaulettes, or four miserable-looking Chinamen came on board, gold lace, swords, and everything else that we coul and this is Doyle's account of his conversation with think of. them.

The circumstance to which I have alluded was “Look here,' said I ; 'what do you want?' this. One day the ladies complained that they

" And they said, Look here; we are the men were very unwell. It seemed that since their lord who took the foreigners' junk, and we have come to and master had deserted, the servants all refused to give ourselves up to you in order that the general's work, and the ladies could get nothing cooked, and vessel may be released.'

they were consequently in a very low condition " "Look here,' I replied ; ' you are not the men. simply from want of food. This deficiency of I don't believe a word you have said. Why have course was speedily remedied, and then we set our you endeavored thus to deceive his Foreign Excel-selves to find out all the circumstances of the case. lency?

The servants evidently thought that they would ex4:0, great teacher, be not too angry with us,' they tort large sums of money in this way from the answered. For look here ; we are not indeed the ladies. They were mistaken, however. The matmen who stole the junk. We are simply poor rice- ter was summarily disposed of by sending for them

and explaining to them that in consequence of their She was a person eminently adapted for the callgross misbehavior we had determined on beheading ing she had selected. In her dress she was faultThem all.

lessly neat and simple. Never did you see upon It astonished us no little to see their calm resig-herat least in business hours — so much as a sunation when they received their sentence. They perfluous bit of ribbon, far less anything approachsimply said, “ Well, if you will, you must!” or ing the gay or flashy. Her manner, without being something of that sort. I never could have believed dry, was thoroughly business-like and the same to their stoicism to be possible, and should always have all her customers. Whether it were peeress or poor thought that they doubted the sincerity of our pur- curate's wife, whether it were the employer of a pose, had I not seen their frantic joy when they dozen servants or only of one of all work, she prewere told that they would be allowed another served consistently the same civil demeanor to every chance of life, provided they returned to their du- one, so that all came away with a correspondingly ties; they were as though they had veritably arisengood opinion of Mrs. Primworthy. from the dead, and we had been the authors of the The young woman whom I expected not having change. Suffice it to say that their gratitude knew arrived, Mrs. Primworthy begged that I would take no bounds, and there were no more complaints. a seat in the ante-room already referred to, which

When it was reported that the men who were accordingly I did, hoping, as I did so, that my deimplicated in the junk's seizure had been delivered tention might not be long. up and punished, the two Imperial vessels and their This apartment evidently served as Mrs. Primcrews were released.

worthy's sitting-room when she was not pursuing Our men had fraternized very considerably with her professional avocations. There was a conventheir Celestial brother-sailors, - so much so, indeed, ient window in the dividing-wall through which, that on leaving the ship they were so drunk that when seated, you could take a panoramic view of their efforts to row their vessels to the land were the so-called office. This intermediate window had truly ridiculous.

been left open; so that not only could I see, if I We parted from the ladies with much regret, for wished, those in the next room, but I could also hear I, for one, had learned the truth of the old adage, in fact I could not help hearing — their conver“ Dum capimus capimur.” They took with them sation. many mementos of their captivity amongst the Having accordingly taken a chair, I readily acfierce Western barbarians, and with other things, Icepted also the offer of a newspaper, and for a few hope, the lesson that the “foreign Devil" is not so moments it engaged my attention, but I soon found black as he is painted.

reading to be impossible, owing to the distractions of the adjacent audience chamber, so I gave up the

atteinpt. HALF AN HOUR IN A SERVANTS' REG | My attention was first drawn off on the arrival of ISTRY.*

a lady in her carriage and pair, who, having alighted, HAVING occasion recently to repair, by appoint

proceeded to relate to Mrs. Primworthy her pitiable ment, to one of those places which have of late be

case. Her countenance, I fancied, bore a look of

harassment; and as I heard her disclose the plight come quite “institutions" in this country, a “Servants' Registry Office," I was. let in for half an

that she was in, I certainly did not wonder that she hour's entertainment in what passed within my

should evince something like anxiety.

1 hearing, though it presented probably but a sample

“ Well, Mrs. Primworthy,” she began, “I am in of the daily proceedings in an establishment of the

great trouble. My servants are all leaving me, and kind.

I cannot imagine the reason why. When I say all, I had come to meet a young person whose servi- |

I mean all excepting my cook, who came to me ces I was anxious to secure from the strong terms in

about a fortnight ago. I do hope she will stay, for which she had been recommended to me; but as I

really she is invaluable. But all the rest have given

me notice, and that within a day or two of one anwas before the time appointed, and she was consid

other. They seem, without any cause, to have erably after, I was placed in the position of an un

taken a whim into their heads to leave me in less intentional witness of what transpired in the interval.

than a month from now. I feel it so I cannot tell Let me, first of all, observe that the “office" in question was kept by a female, a married woman of

you. When I think of the ingratitude of their be

havior, to say nothing of the perplexity they have well-merited reputation for respectability and judg

placed me in, it almost overcomes me; and then we ment, who had now been doing business for years in

have visitors coming to stay with us. that line, and, it was said, had made a good thing of

O, Mrs. it. She had her stated hours of business, and did

Primworthy, I am quite bewildered at the pros

pect." nothing else. Formerly she had kept a shop, a

"Well, ma'am, I'm exceedingly sorry to hear it: greengrocer's on a small scale, carrying on the two businesses together, but she found that the two

but you surely don't mean to say that all your ser

vants have given warning ?” lines did not somehow suit one another; that the

“Yes, indeed I do. Now you know our old nurse supplying her customers with apples and cabbages

who has been with us for years, and who I supposed interfered so with her " domestic” transactions that, favoring no doubt the one that was most lucrative,

was so attached to the family that she could not

have endured the thought of leaving us. Well, she she disposed of her stock-in-trade, converted her shop into what she termed her office, with an ante

was the very first, positively, to give me notice. or waiting-room, pulled down the old sign-board,

That I thought bad enough. Then, one by one, the

others followed her example. My lady's-maid, who and replaced it by another, which proclaimed to the passing world, in gilt and blue, that the undivided

suits me to a nicety, and my housemaid, and even

that steady young man Jones, whom I was so thankattention of the proprietress was devoted to her

ful to you for finding for me, he says he must seek "registry."

another situation too." • From the advance sheets of London Society for July, 1867. “'Tis certainly very trying, ma'am, is n't it? I wonder whatever can be the cause of it all. Has master and mistress don't all give warning that wy there been nothing unpleasant with them that you without there being a cause for it." can think of, ma'am ? Servants are really getting “ That they don't, mum, and accordin' to DIT SE so high and mighty in their notions now, that they'll tions servants did ought to be all of a equality scarce bear being spoke to."

and not one set over the rest on 'em. It makes i "O dear, no. There has been no occasion even place beyond all bearin', that it do." for fault-finding lately. And it seems so strange, I stole a glance across at the lady, and it ra they all say they are so sorry to go, and speak of the really painful to witness the evident discomir kindness of their master and mistress, yet they can- which this observation of the footman occasion not think of staying. I have questioned them, and her. She started as if to rise from her chair and entreated them to tell me what is the matter; but stop further discussion ; but on Mrs. Primworthy the only answer I can get is: “Things is not as they suming, she sat still. used to be.' But I am not aware of any change. “And then, Jones," added the latter, " I've 2] We treat them exactly the same as we always have, ways found when a cook do treat her fellow sertar and they have no complaints to make. I have only bad, it's a thing she can 't be cured of, so it is one comfort amidst it all, and that is, my new cook, any use arguing with her on it.” who is the best, I think, I have ever had, says she “That's just where it is, mum; and, as I can is quite comfortable, and has expressed no wish to 't ain't no good any on us a tryin' to remain. He leave me." She tells me also she has known of ser- temper be so bad, and she be that there violenta vants elsewhere being seized with a similar freak, no one can't bide in sight of her. I'm sure I've and all giving notice together. I think, she said, in always a wished to live peaceable like with every one of the places where she was before they all did one; but that there woman she won't leave none i so one morning. But it is fortunate she is not go- us alone. 'Tis her natur, I expects; and so some ing too, is it not, Mrs. Primworthy ?"

times she'll be abusin' one, sometimes t'other, and But Mrs. Primworthy, I noticed, made no answer sometimes abusin' us all round. Such a time as I'm to this remark; and a peculiar look she put on made had these here last ten days! I'd sooner list for : me fancy some suspicion had occurred to her. “Do soldier. I'd sooner -" you know, ma'am," she replied, “ I should much like Here Mrs. Primworthy interrupted him. “ Your to talk a bit to your footman Jones. He knows me mistress is sadly put about, Jones. Don't you well, and I will reason with him, and tell him what think you could manage to stay on till sbe wa I think of his conduct. It can do no harm, ma'am.” | suited ? and you might have more time, perhaps, to

“O, you are quite at liberty to do so; but I am look out for a good place." sure it will be no sort of use.' Foolish fellow, he is “No, mum; I'm very sorry for missus, but! quite resolved to be gone as much as any of them. I could n't stay: I believe as it would be the death o You may try what you can do. Here, Jones," said | me. I was going to say as I'd sooner break stones the lady, stooping forward to beckon the man in. I from mornin' to night, and get my vittles where I • “Excuse me, ma'am," interposed Mrs. Prim- I could, than I'd bide in a place where that there worthy, “I must ask you to be so kind as to step woman was. If we was a lot of dogs, she couldn't into the next room, as I think he won't like speak- treat us no worse nor she do. "Tain't me only ing out before you ; so, if you don't mind, ma'am, either: every one as comes to the kitchen catches it just taking a seat in here – ” (opening the door of from her just the same. If it's the baker or tbe the room I was in).

grocer's man, she do fly at 'em as if she was a tiger Mrs. Primworthy did not finish her sentence, but axing them what brings 'em there, and such like, ti showed the lady in, and closing the door again, sum- some on 'em declares as they won't come no more. moned Jones into her presence.

'Twas only last night as the butcher's boy said some I own I felt by no means comfortable on being one else might come for orders, 'cos he should n. discovered in my retreat, especially when its facili- come again. Never did see such a woman in 34 ties for overhearing became apparent. The lady my life : she must be abusin' or a scolding summut. evinced a little surprise at seeing me, and perhaps Why, one day, if she did n't take and beat the poor felt something more ; but we both remained seated cat with the bastin' spoon, 'cos she happened.com still and silent, listening to the conversation be- come nigh the hastener when she was a roastin', till tween the footman and the registress. And now the poor animal went limpin' off under the dresser. we had an opportunity of admiring the shrewd tact The amazement and consternation of the lady of Mrs. Primworthy. Instead of opening a direct which had been fast fomenting, here reached a chifire upon the man with the straight-forward inquiry max, and completely got the better of her. Unable why it was he had given notice, she adopted the to sit quiet any longer, she quickly rose from her masterly flank movement of expressing a deep in-chair, and, presenting herself again in the office, pa terest in the cook who had lately left the place, and an end to the discussion. after enumerating her various excellences, all of The appearance of his mistress Jones took as a which Jones indorsed to the full, she observed, signal for him to withdraw; whereupon the lady re

“ Yes indeed, she was what we may call a good commenced. servant, and no mistake; and what's more, she was « Well, Mrs. Primworthy, I have overheard all. a comfortable sort of a person to live with ; and really do not know how I feel! I am amazed... I'm quite certain, Jones, if she'd remained you am mortified too. How I have been taken in With never would have wanted to leave the same as you that woman! To me she is perfectly respectful, ap; are."

pearing to know her place most thoroughly; and “No, mum, nor none on us would n't, and so yet amongst the servants she must be a regular that's the truth," admitted Jones, falling at once into virago. Still, I feel relieved greatly, disappointed the trap.

though I am. I am sure I have to thank you for " It makes such a deal of difference, does n't it, the way in which you elicited the truth from Jones, Jones, when a cook makes things agreeable in the and really you deserve great credit for being so kitchen. I knew it was so. Servants as has a kind clever.”

Mrs. Primworthy smiled, with a look of modest mysterious warning, which has sorely perplexed the satisfaction, and replied,

head of an establishment, is traceable to some such " Why, ma'am, when you told me what the cook cause as that just divulged. While other reasons had said to you, I suspected at once what was the are alleged, the truth is that there is some crossmatter.”

grained, cantankerous spirit below stairs, who em"Well, I say, I think it was very clever of you. bitters kitchen life to one, if not more of its ocBut I am greatly to blame, for, do you know, I en- cupants, till further endurance of it becomes unbeartirely forget to make any inquiry respecting the able. woman's temper, so I am just punished for my own I was about to resume my newspaper, when a secstupid forgetfulness."

ond lady stepped in by appointment, like myself, to "Well, ma'am, I don't know. You might not meet a young woman who, fortunately for her, was perhaps have heard the truth, even if you had made already awaiting her arrival in another “ Salle that inquiry. You see, some mistresses makes it a d'Attente," and had only to be summoned. One sort of rule never to say a single word to harm a ser- glance at the lady convinced me that, although she vant that applies to them for a character; and I might be mistress of an establishment, she was not know one lady, for example, who, though she has blest with a family. That somewhat antiquated had really all sorts in service, gives the same char-bonnet; that rather short, adhesive skirt, which eviacter to every one. They are all good-tempered, all dently gave shelter to no crinoline, and that quaintcleanly, all sober, and so on; when I know, as a ly-pinned shawl, all conspired to bespeak unmistakfact, some of them have been quite different. And ably the old maid. She spoke deliberately, yet then, you see, ma'am, this woman is a knowing one; somewhat determinedly; her features seemed to she never shows her temper to you: most likely her take no interest in the remarks that escaped her, former mistresses have found her, like you have, appearing incapable of evincing pleasure, pain, or quite civil and respectful, though in other kitchens animation. she has gone on as she has in yours. It is seldom, “You see," she began, with a slowness bordering too, we can get servants to speak out of one another. on solemnity, that would almost justify the following I assure you, ma'am, they'll leave a good place specimen of punctuation, “ Mrs. Primworthy; I resooner. I don't know when I've heard one speakquire, a person, of more than ordinary, respectabiliout like that footman of yours did: and it is a great ty. Situated, as I am; and there being only pity they don't ; for how are you or I to know, females, in my house; it is necessary to avoid, the how's any one to know, — the real characters, when slightest cause, for scandal ; or even, remark. You there's an agreement like to keep the truth back know ; I keep, but the two. I require them, to be as from us? I suppose, ma'am, you intend giving the correct, as myself, in every way." | cook notice ?"

“Of course, ma'am ; naturally you do," replied “ Indeed I shall,” replied the lady. “I shall hurry the ever coinciding Mrs. Primworthy, probably home and give her warning at once; and I do hope, thinking all the while she did not see why respectby doing so, I shall get my other servants to stop on. able attendants were more indispensable in the case Do you think they will, Mrs. Primworthy ?”

of this unprotected female than with anybody else, “ Really, ma'am, I hope they may, but I cannot and adding, “ Perhaps you 'll allow me to call the undertake to say. Servants has got such queer young woman, as she is waiting, and then you can obstinate notions sometimes. But I think if you speak to her yourself.” can send the cook away, without letting her fancy The summons resulted in the entrée of a goodany one has been telling of her, it is the best thing looking girl of about two-and-twenty; well, but ceryou can do, ma'am.”

tainly not gayly dressed, whose bright eyes and “Good morning, then, Mrs. Primworthy: I must animated look presented a marked contrast with the hurry home. I shall call again to-morrow; for in unimpassioned aspect of her possible future mistress. any case you will have to help me. I only trust that Scarcely possible, too, thought I; surely this cauit may be one servant, and not five, that I shall re- tious maiden lady seeks something far more demure quire you to find for me."

than this damsel. The girl having dropped a proThe lady now re-entered her carriage, and the pitiatory courtesy, the lady commenced as follows, footman closed the door after her. Before, however, each word weighed with consistent deliberation : -+ driving away, she seemed to have remembered some- “You have been in service before, I understand ?" thing more, for Jones was sent back with a message “ Yes ma'am ; I was housemaid and parlor-maid relative to the hour of the morrow's visit ; having at my last place.” delivered which, the man seized the opportunity of “What sort of place was it ?- a quiet place ?” adding just a word, as if in self-vindication :

“) yes, ma'am ; 't was a very quiet place, and "You see, mum, we never likes tellin' on one an- very little company." other; but when a woman like that cook do forget "Did they keep any men-servants there?” A herself, and come to treat her fellow-servants as if decided stress upon that awful word of three letters they were all her inferiors, why then, I don't think being perceptible. the likes of her don't deserves no consideration, but “No, ma'am, they did n't keep no man-servants. only to be treated accordin'."

They had used to keep a footman afore I come, but Quite right, Jones; you need never mind tell- as I could wait at table, master said as he should n't ing the real truth in such a case as that.”

want a man no more." There was now a short pause ; Mrs. Primworthy “ And did you and the cook do all the work of taking advantage of the vacant interval to put on the house?” her spectacles and cast her eye through a handful of “ Not quite all, we did n't, ma'am. There was, papers which she drew from her desk. Thinks I to besides us two, a boy as used to clean the boots and myself, as I mused over the interview just concluded, knives, and run of a errand, and sometimes help such, I dare say, is but a revelation of what takes wait at table." place frequently in a kitchen, without ever reaching “0, indeed! there was a boy, was there ? — the ear of master or mistress. Probably many a and pray what age was the boy ? "