ral accounts; if not wanted, to make herself useful in
housekeeper's room, and obey all orders received from her or head
tirewoman. At night see that the hot water is ready for Lady T's
feet, and wait for her retiring to bed; wash Lady T's feet, and cut
corns, as required; read Lady T to sleep, or, if not required to read,
wait till she is certain that Lady T is so.

"Now the only points in which I think your daughter may fail is in
properly washing, combing, and examining the dogs, and cutting her
ladyship's corns; but surely she can practise a little of both, as she
will not be wanted for a month. There can be no difficulty about the
first; and as for the latter, as all people in your rank of life have
corns, she may practise upon yours or her father's. At all events,
there can be no want of corns in Greenwich Hospital among the
pensioners. I am desired to say that Lady T gives no wages the first
year; and you will be expected to send your daughter neatly fitted
out, that she may be able to remain in the room when there is company.
If this offer will not suit, I can do nothing more; the difficulty of
patronage increases every day. You will send an answer.

"VIRGINIA HAWKINGTREFYLYAN.

"I was just closing my letter when Lady Scrimmage came in; she tells me
that Lady Towser is suited, and that you have no hopes of this
situation. I have done my best. Lady Scrimmage has, however, informed
me that she thinks she can, upon my recommendation, do something for you
in Greenwich, as she deals largely with a highly-respectable and
fashionable milliner of the same name as your own, and with whom it
would be of the greatest advantage to your daughter to be placed as an
apprentice, or something of that sort. This is an opportunity not to be
lost, and I therefore have requested Lady S to write immediately, and I
trust, by _my patronage_, she will gain a _most enviable situation_."

"That postscript is admirable," observed I, "and ought to have put my
mother in a good humour. Is she not called by Lady Hercules `highly
respectable and fashionable'?"

"Very true," replied Virginia; "but my mother cannot get over the first
part of the letter, in which she is mentioned as `a decent and
well-behaved menial.' She has since received a note from Lady
Scrimmage, requesting her to take me in some capacity or another,
adding, by way of postscript, `You know you need not keep her if you do
not