gold watch and two hat-pins, and my silver hair-brush, and a
bottle of brandy, and a pie," she enumerated with a conscientious regard
for details; "and Mrs. Trent--that's the principal--had advertised for a
new butler."

"I should have thought the old one would have discouraged her from
keeping butlers," said Georgie.

"You _would_ think so," said Patty; "but she was a very persevering
woman. On the day that Raoul--that's his name--came to call, nineteen
people had applied for the place, and Mrs. Trent was worn out from
interviewing them. So she told Miss Sarah--that's her daughter--to
attend to those who came in the evening. Miss Sarah was tall and wore
spectacles, and was--was--"

"A good disciplinarian," suggested the Twin.

"Yes," said Patty, feelingly, "an _awfully_ good disciplinarian. Well,
when Raoul got there he gave his card to Ellen and asked for me; but
Ellen didn't understand, and she called Miss Sarah, and when Miss Sarah
saw him in his evening clothes she--"

"Took him for a butler," put in Georgie.

"Yes, she took him for a butler; and she looked at the card he'd given
Ellen, and said icily, 'What does this mean?'

"'It's--it's my name,' he stammered.

"'I see,' said Miss Sarah; 'but where is your recommendation?'

"'I didn't know it was necessary,' he said, terribly scared.

"'Of course it's necessary,' Miss Sarah returned. 'I can't allow you to
come into the house unless I have letters from the places where you've
been before.'

"'I didn't suppose you were so strict,' he said.

"'We have to be strict,' Miss Sarah answered firmly. 'Have you had much
experience?'

"He didn't know what she meant, but he thought it would be safest to say
he hadn't.

"'Then of course you won't do,' she replied. 'How old are you?'

"He was so frightened by this time that he couldn't remember.
'Nineteen,' he gasped--'I mean twenty.'

"Miss Sarah saw his confusion, and thought he had designs on some of
the heiresses intrusted to her care. 'I don't see how you _dared_ to
come here,' she said severely. 'I should not think of having you in the
house for a moment. You're altogether too young and too good-looking.'
And with that Raoul got up and bolted.

"When Ellen told Miss Sarah the next day that he'd asked for me, she was
terribly mortified, and she made me write and explain, and invite him to
dinner; but wild horses couldn't have dragged him into the house again.
He's been afraid to stop off in Washington