red, in an awe-struck tone.

"No. I--I thought I'd let them fight it out between themselves,"
replied Bessie. "You see, Thaddeus, servants are queer, and do not
like to have their differences settled by others than themselves.
It'll work out all right, if we let them alone."

"I don't know but that you are right," said Thaddeus, after a few
moments of thought. "They're both sensible girls, and capable of
fighting their own battles. Let's have dinner. I'm hungry as a
bear."

It was half-past six o'clock, and the usual hour for dinner. At
8.10 dinner was served. The intervening time was consumed by Jane
and Ellen endeavoring to settle their differences by the silent,
sniffy method--that is, Jane would sniff, and Ellen would be silent;
and then Ellen would sniff, and Jane would be silent. As for
Thaddeus and Bessie, they were amused rather than angry to have the
dear little broiled chicken Bessie had provided served on the large
beef-platter; and when the pease came up in a cut-glass salad-dish,
Thaddeus laughed outright, but Bessie's eyes grew moist. It was too
evident that Jane and Ellen were not on speaking terms, and there
was strong need for some one to break the ice. Fortunately,
Bessie's mother called that evening, and some of her time was spent
below-stairs. What she said there only Ellen and Jane knew, but it
had its effect, and for two or three weeks the jewels worked almost
as satisfactorily as did Norah, the new girl, and quite
harmoniously.

"Bessie," said Thaddeus, one night as they ate their supper, "does
it occur to you that the roast is a little overdone to-night?"

"Yes, Teddy, it is very much overdone. I must speak to Ellen about
it. She is a little careless about some things. I've told her
several times that you like your beef rare."

"Well, I'd tell her again. Constant dropping of water on its
surface will wear away a stone, and I think, perhaps, the constant
dropping of an idea on a cook's head may wear away some of the
thickest parts of that--at least, until it is worn thin enough for
the idea to get through to where her brain ought to be. You might
say to her, too, that for several nights past dinner has been cold."

"I'll speak to her in the morning," was Bessie's reply; and the dear
little woman was true to her purpose.

"She explained about the beef and the cold dinner, Ted," she said,
when Thaddeus came home that afternoon.

"Satisfactorily to all hands, I hope?" said