United States or Lesotho ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
To-night, however, she scarcely remembered these outbreaks of her dreaming fancy, the sordid, hard, matter-of-fact side of life alone presented itself to her depressed imagination. She pictured herself going into service as what? Kitchen-maid, probably, she was not tall enough for a house-parlourmaid. House-parlourmaids were bound to be effective, even dignified, in height and appearance.
Two four-wheeled cabs were standing at the front door and the cabman assisted by Edward were putting trunks on top of them. They were servants' trunks and Cook was already inside the first cab which was filled with paper parcels and odds and ends. Even as her mistress watched Emma got in carrying a sedate band-box. She was the house-parlourmaid and a sedate person.
Determined to have done once for all with a task she loathed, Alma wrote out her advertisements for cook, house-parlourmaid, and nurse, and sent them to half a dozen newspapers.
All the same, the house-parlourmaid, Milly by name, was a good deal excited about this particular couple who were now expected. For Mrs. Weston had told her it had been a 'war wedding, and the bridegroom was going off to the front in a week.
However, at that moment their small house-parlourmaid entered with the tea-tray, and Doris rose to make a place for it. The parlourmaid put it down with much unnecessary noise, and Doris, looking at her in alarm, saw that her expression was sulky and her eyes red. When the girl had departed, Mrs. Meadows said with resignation "There! that one will give me notice to-morrow!"
By-the-bye, Livy, how many servants do you propose to keep in this palatial mansion?" "I am afraid we can only afford two good ones at present. That is my difficulty, Aunt Madge. What am I to do with Martha? She is certainly not eligible for a house-parlourmaid." "Keep her as Dot's nurse, and I will pay her wages. Yes, I mean it, Livy.
Principal duties large flower-garden, small conservatory, draw bath-chair, must wait at table, understand lamps, non-smoker, wear dress suit except in garden. Clothes and beer not found. Family, lady and child, lady-help. House-parlourmaid kept. Must not object to small bedroom. Joint wages £50, all found."
But she would not have put it in those exact words. At last she began walking towards the house, telling herself that she felt oddly tired, and that it would be very pleasant, for once, to have a solitary cup of tea. Her house-parlourmaid was shaping very nicely. Thus the girl had evidently brought the lamps into the sitting-room, though she had forgotten to draw the curtains.
This shrilly from the little house-parlourmaid. Serena rose as well as her hostess. Superiority counselled departure; curiosity urged remaining. "Of course, I should feel justified in staying if Rhoda pressed me to do so," she said to herself. And Rhoda, in the very act of greeting her new guest, did press her to do so. "Surely you are not leaving yet?" she said plaintively.
Iglesias might find it better to leave Trimmer's Green." "Miss Eliza Hart, if you please, ma'am," this from the house-parlourmaid. In accordance with established precedent, Serena should have risen from the place of honour, upon the sofa, making room for the newcomer. But she defied precedent. Acknowledging the said newcomer with the stiffest of bows, she sat tight.
Word Of The Day