," said Fairy, as they went into the
kitchen.

(_To be continued._)

"SHE COULDN'T BOIL A POTATO;"

OR,

THE IGNORANT HOUSEKEEPER, AND HOW SHE ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE.

BY DORA HOPE.

PART II.

The next morning Mr. Hastings had an interview with the doctor, who told
him that Mrs. Wilson's recovery depended to a great extent upon her
having absolute quiet, and freedom from all anxiety or annoyance. He
advised that the nurse, in whom he had perfect confidence, should have
the entire responsibility of the sick room, but as it was clear that she
could not be always on duty, he hoped it could be arranged for Ella to
remain and take the management of the house, and at the same time
relieve the nurse occasionally by taking her place in the sick room.

It was absolutely necessary, he said, for Mrs. Wilson's sake, that there
should be a mistress in the house, for already the nurse had complained
to him that her patient had been very much disturbed by the loud talking
and banging of doors; and that she herself had found considerable
difficulty in getting her wants attended to, and her meals provided with
comfort.

The doctor's opinion settled the matter; Ella must stay, and in order to
make everything as easy for her as possible, Mr. Hastings called in the
servants, and explained to them that he left his daughter in charge of
the house, and that until Mrs. Wilson was well enough to attend to
business herself, they were to take all orders from, and refer
everything to, Ella.

At first all went smoothly enough; the servants were frightened at Mrs.
Wilson's illness, and were ready to help and obey. Contrary to her
expectations, too, Ella found her time pass very quickly; instead of
days seeming dull, there was only too much to do and think of.

Directly after breakfast each morning, she had an interview with nurse
to get her report, and consult as to the invalid cookery for the day.
Then Bertha, the cook, had to be talked to, and arrangements made for
the day's meals; then there were the fowls and ducks to feed, the
one-eyed pony to visit, and talk to while he nibbled his daily apple,
and the peace to keep between the seagull and jackdaw, whose habitual
friendship could hardly stand the test of breakfast-time. And if she
lingered too long with these and the dogs, Sir Paul, the parrot, was
screaming loudly, threatening to "tell the missus," while the whole
cageful of little birds were twittering and scolding that th