k Berta will be angry with me? How does she treat you?'

'Well, I can't complain. You see she's my own flesh and blood, and what
can I say? But, in secret truth, the wages is terrible low, and barely
pays for the tobacco I consooms.'

'O Joey, you wicked boy! If mother only knew that you smoked!'

'I don't mind the wickedness so much as the smell. And Mrs. Petherwin
has got such a nose for a fellow's clothes. 'Tis one of the greatest
knots in service--the smoke question. 'Tis thoughted that we shall make
a great stir about it in the mansions of the nobility soon.'

'How much more you know of life than I do--you only fourteen and me
seventeen!'

'Yes, that's true. You see, age is nothing--'tis opportunity. And even
I can't boast, for many a younger man knows more.'

'But don't smoke, Joey--there's a dear!'

'What can I do? Society hev its rules, and if a person wishes to keep
himself up, he must do as the world do. We be all Fashion's slave--as
much a slave as the meanest in the land!'

They got downstairs again; and when the dinner of the French lady and
gentleman had been sent up and cleared away, and also Ethelberta's
evening tea (which she formed into a genuine meal, making a dinner of
luncheon, when nobody was there, to give less trouble to her
servant-sisters), they all sat round the fire. Then the rustle of a
dress was heard on the staircase, and squirrel-haired Ethelberta appeared
in person. It was her custom thus to come down every spare evening, to
teach Joey and her sisters something or other--mostly French, which she
spoke fluently; but the cook and housemaid showed more ambition than
intelligence in acquiring that tongue, though Joey learnt it readily
enough.

There was consternation in the camp for a moment or two, on account of
poor Picotee, Ethelberta being not without firmness in matters of
discipline. Her eye instantly lighted upon her disobedient sister, now
looking twice as disobedient as she really was.

'O, you are here, Picotee? I am glad to see you,' said the mistress of
the house quietly.

This was altogether to Picotee's surprise, for she had expected a round
rating at least, in her freshness hardly being aware that this reserve of
feeling was an acquired habit of Ethelberta's, and that civility stood in
town for as much vexation as a tantrum represented in Wessex.

Picotee lamely explained her outward reasons for coming, and soon began
to find that Ethelberta's opin