8 J. COLE.

they entailed « fetching,” as we had no boy to
run errands quickly on an emergency and be
useful. However, I rang the bell; and when
the housemaid, whose temper, since she had
been what is curiously termed in servants’-hall
language ‘“single-handed,” was most trying,
entered, I said, “Make some lemonade, Mary,
and ask cook to gather some strawberries
quickly, and bring them, with some cream.”
Mary looked at me as who should say,
“Well, I’m sure! and who’s to do it all?
You'll have to wait a bit.” And I know we
should have to wait, and therefore resigned
myself to do so patiently, keeping up the ball
of gossip, and wondering if a little music later
on would perhaps while away the time.
Much to my amazement, in less than a
quarter of an hour Mary entered with the tray,
all being prepared; and directly I looked at
the strawberry-bowl I detected a novel feature
in the table decoration. A practised hand had
evidently been at work; but whose? Mary
was far too matter-of-fact a person. Food,
plates, knives and forks, glasses, and a cruet-
stand were all she ever thought necessary;