e properly laid, the maid slips into her black dress
and apron, and presents herself at the drawing-room door, announcing
"Dinner' is served."

The Maid's Serving.--The guests being seated, she brings in the soup
tureen, uncovers it, taking the cover to the pantry as she goes for the
hot soup plates. She then stands at the left of the mistress with a tray,
covered with a doily, in her left hand, a folded napkin under the tray;
takes the soup plates as they are filled, passing them to the left of each
guest, taking the plate from the tray with the right hand. She then
removes the tureen. Removing the plates she takes them from the left side
of the guest. The roast is brought in and served in the same manner as the
soup; the vegetables are passed, each guest helping himself from the dish.
The salad is usually served on the plates upon which it has been arranged.
After the salad the table is cleared and the crumbs brushed with a napkin
upon a plate or tray, and the dessert brought on for the hostess to serve,
The latter starts the little dishes of bonbons or salted nuts on their
travels, guests passing them along.

Chocolate is a good beverage to serve on such occasions; it can be made in
the morning, or even the day before, and heated without in the least
impairing its quality.

Given a capable, willing girl, one anxious to learn and not too
self-conscious, a woman may entertain two or three or four guests very
adequately if she will plan her menu carefully and see, personally, that
everything is in readiness. She should, however, avoid any
overelaboration. Better a simple meal well prepared and served than a more
pretentious one that fails in these particulars.

[MANNERS AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS 781]

Duties of Waitress and Cook.--Where two maids are kept they are waitress--
"second girl" or "housemaid," sometimes so-called--and cook. The
housemaid--we will so style her--opens and airs the house and dusts and
arranges the rooms before breakfast. She serves the breakfast, clears the
table and washes the dishes taken from it. She then proceeds to the
bedrooms, putting them in order, dusting, making beds, etc. She will
probably have fine lingerie waists, etc., to wash and iron on certain
mornings. She does the sweeping, unless there is a man to take out and
beat the rugs, and wipes up hardwood floors. She must clean the silver
once a week and rub up brass; keep the pantries in order, clean the
bathrooms, wait on table, ans