cook to Miss Loach for years an'
years and years. But if you had wished to behave like a servant, as
you are," added she with emphasis, "why didn't you run round by the
veranda and so get to the back where the kitchen is. But you're one of
the new class of servants, Miss Grant, 'aughty and upsetting."

"I know my place," said Susan, taking off her hat.

"And I know mine," said Emily Pill, "me being cook and consequently the
mistress of this servants' 'all. An' I'm an old-fashioned servant
myself, plain in my 'abits and dress." This with a disparaging look at
the rather smart costume of the newly-arrived housemaid. "I don't 'old
with cockes feathers and fal-de-dals on 'umble folk myself, not but
what I could afford 'em if I liked, being of saving 'abits and a
receiver of good wages. But I'm a friendly pusson and not 'ard on a
good-lookin' gal, not that you are what I call 'andsome."

Susan seated beside the table, looked weary and forlorn, and the
good-natured heart of the cook was touched, especially when Susan
requested her to refrain from the stiff name of Miss Grant.

"You an' me will be good friends, I've no doubt," said Emily, "an' you
can call me Mrs. Pill, that being the name of my late 'usband, who died
of gin in excess. The other servants is housemaid and page, though to
be sure he's more of a man-of-all-work, being forty if he's a day, and
likewise coachman, when he drives out Miss Loach in her donkey
carriage. Thomas is his name, my love." The cook was rapidly becoming
more and more friendly, "and the housemaid is called Geraldine, for
which 'eaven forgives her parents, she bein' spotty and un'ealthy and
by no means a Bow-Bell's 'eroine, which 'er name makes you think of.
But there's a dear, I'm talking brilliant, when you're dying for a cup
of tea, and need to get your box unpacked, by which I mean that I sees
the porter with the barrer."

The newly-arrived parlor-maid was pleased by this friendly if
ungrammatical reception, and thought she would like the cook in spite
of her somewhat tiresome tongue. For the next hour she was unpacking
her box and arranging a pleasant little room at the back. She shared
this with the spotty Geraldine, who seemed to be a good-natured girl.
Apparently Miss Loach looked after her servants and made them
comfortable. Thomas proved to be amiable if somewhat stupid, and
welcomed Susan to tea affably but with sheepish looks. As the servants
seemed pleasant, the ho