10 J. COLE.

if I might be so bold, did you think serious
of engagin’ the boy that’s waitin’ in the
kitchen? ”

“Why do you ask, Cook?” I said.

“ Well, ma’am,” she replied, trying to hide
a laugh, “of course it’s not for me to presume ;
but, if I might say a word for him, I think
he’s the very handiest and the sharpest one
we’ve ever had in this house, and we’ve had
a many, as you know. Why, if you’d only
have seen him when Mary come in in her tan-
trums at ’aqing to get the tray single-handed,
and begun a-grumblin’ and a-bangin’ things
about, as is her way, being of a quick temper,
though, as I tells her, too slow a-movin’ of
herself. As I were a-sayin’, you should have
seen that boy. If he didn’t up and leave his
bread and butter and mug of milk, as he was
a-enjoyin’ of as ’arty as you like, and, ‘ Look
‘ere,’ says he, ‘giv’ me the jug. Tl make
some fine drink with lemons. I see Dick do
it often up at his place. Giv’ me the squeezer.
Wait till I washes my ’ands. I won’t be a
minnit.? Then in he rushes into the scullery,
washes his hands, runs back again in a jiffy.