We shall never get anyone like Mary."

"We may be thankful if we get anyone at all. Girls don't like living so
far from the village," groaned Lettice in concert; and the virtues of
Mary, and the difficulties of supplanting her, were discussed at length
throughout the afternoon. Hilary's sense of guilt in the matter made
her even more energetic than usual in her efforts to find a new maid.
She visited the local registry offices, inserted advertisements in the
papers, and wrote reams of letters; and, on the third day, to her
delight, a young woman arrived to apply for the situation. It was the
first time that the duty of interviewing a new servant had devolved upon
Hilary's shoulders, for all three maids had been in the family for
years, and, in her new doubtfulness of self, she would have been glad to
ask the help of Miss Briggs, but that good lady had taken Geraldine for
a walk, and there was no help at hand.

"I don't know if she is afraid of me, but I am certainly terrified of
her!" said poor Hilary, smoothing her hair before the glass, and trying
to make herself look as staid and grown-up as possible. "I don't know
what on earth to say. Lettice, come and sit in the room, there's a
dear, and see what you think of her. I shouldn't like to engage anyone
on my own responsibility." So the two girls went downstairs together,
and Lettice looked on from a quiet corner, while Hilary sat bolt
upright, cross-questioning the new servant. She was a tall, awkward
girl, untidily dressed, with a fly-away hat perched on the top of her
head, a spotted veil drawn over her face, and the shabbiest of boas
wound round her neck. "What a contrast to our nice, trim Mary!" groaned
Lettice to herself, while Hilary cudgelled her brain to think of
appropriate questions.

"And--er--have you been accustomed to housemaid's work?"

"Oh, yes, miss. I'm very handy about a house, miss. I'm sure I could
give you satisfaction, miss."

("I don't like her voice. She has not nearly such nice manners as
Mary," sighed Hilary to herself. "Oh dear me!")

"And--er--can you--er--get up in the morning without being called?"

"Oh yes, miss; I'm fond of early rising. It's never any trouble to me
to get up."

"And--er--we are rather a large family, and I am very particular. Are
you quite strong and able to work?"

"Oh yes, miss; quite strong, miss. Never had a day's illness in my
life."

"And--er--(there must be other questions to ask, but