The Tables Turned; or, Nupkins Awakened. A Socialist Interlude

e, far below the surface, in Mrs. Salisbury's attitude toward the new maid. The mistress found herself incessan

s. Otis had domineered Mrs. Salisbury throughout their childhood; she had brought up a number of sons and daughters in a highly successful manner, and finally she kept a houseful of servants, whom she managed with

"She's a splendid cook, of course, and a

sbury asserted promptly. "She does exactly w

gely, genially. And she exchan

ters, both with sewing, were in big armchairs. Sandy, idly turning the pages of a new maga

bsolutely nothing to do. The girl would probably be happier with some work in her hands. Don't encourage her to think that she can whisk through her lunch dishes and then rush off somewhere. They have

" said Alexandra, "but this is a

nd flung the pink yarn that she was knitting into

now?" she asked

" Mrs. Salisb

e loves to walk in the rain, and she wanted to chang

Otis observed, with fine scorn. "Surely

is done. She-comes

answers the door?" Mrs. Otis w

st as she answers the telephone. But she's

r income-I won't say of our position, for Mother hates that-but on ou

nd eyes from mother to daughter and back again.

ttie," Mrs. Salisbury presently said, with a

do fast enough! Do you suppose I'd pay a maid thirty-seven dollars a month to go tramping off to the library in the rain, and to tell me what my social status was? Why, Evelyn keeps two, and

not a great admirer of her young married cousin, put in here, "and Arthu

r sister, "says that, when she and Fred are to be away for a meal, she deliberately lays out extra work for the maid; she says it keeps her from getting ideas. No, Sally," Mrs. Otis concluded, with the older-sister manner she had worn year

artha," Sandy said, dimpling. "She never

hemselves at the corners of her capable mouth. "If you like that sort of

f anything else. Present

Your grandmother," she said to Alexandra, with stern relish, "had had a pack of slaves about her in HER young days.

l worker. She's just like a stenographer, except that what she does is ten times harder to learn than stenography. We can no more ask her to get tea than

s said forcibly. "But if your mother and

eatly, "for Justine manages on less than I ever did. I think the

ance o

. A margin left fr

. Otis's broad lap. "She handles yo

d she does it for a third less, Mattie, truly. S

things and pay tr

asked, amused but impatient. "Why

In giving such a girl financial responsibilities, you not only let go of the control of your household, but you put temptation in her w

not that sort of girl at a

theringly. "But when grown business men were cheated as easily as those men in the First National were," she finished impressively, allud

, if indirect,

ill you have some, either of you? I

sing table, her hair loosened, her eyes thoughtful. When she spoke again, it was with a shade of resentment. "And, really, it is most inconvenient," she said. "I don't want to impose upon a girl; I never DID impose upon a girl; but I like to feel that I'm mistress in my own house. If the work is too hard one day, I will make it easier the nex

laid it on his bureau, and went on, more mildly: "If you can do better than Justine, it may or may not be wo

face, "let us suppose that every family had a graduate cook, who marketed and managed. And let us suppose the childre

o off to clubs and card parties every day! I'd know that the house was clean, the meals as good and as nourishing as could be; I'd know that guests would b

in the glass, deeply in earne

fruit gardens, soap-making and weaving and chickens and babies, they had real responsibilities, they had real interests. Ho

ow are you going to use your energies, and find the work you want to do in the world? How are you going to manage the questions of being obliged to work at home,

nued to eye hi

how?" s

you!" he answered pointe

o live along quietly, busy with dressmaking, or perhaps now and then making a fancy dessert for guests, giving little teas and card part

rfully. "Or at least it looks as if that woman would find her own level, deliberately separate hers

ppen to know so mu

fe working. Now men tell you with pride that their wives paint or write or bind books-Bates' wife makes loads of money designing

ned a tea room in the old garage. But it seems funny, just the same! It seems funny to me that so many women find it worth while to hire servants, so that they

I believe we'll see the time, Sally," said Kane Salisbury thoughtfully, "when a young couple, launching into matrimony, will discuss expenses with a mutual interest; y

anything romantic or tender or beautiful about married li

ves sauntering through the nicest shopping district of River Falls. There were various small things to be bought for the wardro

t shops in town, on their way from one store to another, and, attracted by a win

us, Mrs. Salisbury," said the alert salesman who waited u

nt here," said Mrs.

ad, and one of the members of the f

aid he, with pleasant dignity; "I can remember your coming into the old

loor, as the height of the child Alexandra, and the g

inkling her forehead; "I had no idea that the acc

Mr. Lewis soothingly. "You might l

Salisbury asked,

at the time, of course, we did not press it. T

alisbury, and, if he had had any reason, he would have told me of it. However," she rose to go, "if

the main thing, isn't it? There's been so much sickness everywhere lately. And your young lady looks a

But, as soon as she and Alexandra were out of heari

oes, da

ing the audacity t

uld she want

w. Given it to frie

er, she w

the subject, and brought her mind back w

irl was drying glasses, each one emerging like a bubble

"have we been getting our groce

ccount book which she took from a

as August elevent

barrassed serenity an

y?" she sugge

hat they have is of the best, but they cater to the very richest families, you know-firms like Lewis & Sons aren't very much interested in the or

ain of her terms, and Mrs. Sali

you HAVE transf

a week, and send enough home to make it worth while for the tradesman. You couldn't market as I do, Mrs. Salisbury, but the tradespeople rather expect it of a maid. Sometimes I gather an assortme

class" was biting like an acid upon her pride. And it was further humiliating to c

with dignity. "We may not be among the richest families in town," she was unable to refrain

we did," Justine hastily interposed. "I

r. If he is too far away, the order may be telephoned. Or give me your list, and I will stop in, as I used to do. Then I can order any lit

bow an instant assent. Instead

unts and my ledger?" she

ity for that," the older woma

"they never have sales, never special prices. Their cheapest to

er had any trouble. Begin with him to-morrow. And, while, of course, I understand that I was ill and couldn't

her employer, the last glass, polished to diam

rs. Salisbury, I will have to give up my budget. You se

the end of the month," Mrs.

t run bills," th

"just do as I ask you, if you please, and we'll settle everything at

xt morning had a pleasant half hour in

affable Mr. Lewis, "but when one is ill-However, I am

t market and greengrocer. Everything went along very smoothly until the end of the month, when Justine submitted her usual weekly

usband seemed in a mood for financial advances, and, wrapping it firmly about the inadequate notes and silver given her by Justine, she shut it in a desk dra

her bimonthly bill. Justine also gave her mistress another

f them, in their desk drawer, rather worried Mrs. Salisbury. One even

e from these petty worries for some months

s business, Sally?" said he,

't enough money, apparently, and she simpl

doesn't sound

They're queer, you know, Kane; all servant

!" he shouted, and the maid, after putting an inquiring head

were so proud of, Justine?" asked Ka

," answered Justine, with a rathe

ood-naturedly. And his wife added b

course, makes it impossible for me to keep track of what is spent. These last four we

! Well, Mrs. Salisbury will have to let you go back to the ordering then. D'ye

d," Mrs. Salisbury said, smiling with great tolerance, and in a soo

e rules of the college for anyone else to do any ordering, unless, of c

nt to market for you?" asked

amounts to

threw her hus

in the morning, Justine," she said, with

er kitchen, and Mr. Sa

le you are! And how yo

t vestige of calm, and, after one scathing summary of the case, she refused

k well. Bills doubled in size, and so many things were forgotten, or were ordered at the las

pleased, and peace fell again. But, smoldering in Mrs. Salisbury's bosom was a deep resentment at this peculiar and annoying state of af

xasperating, when perhaps making beds upstairs, to glance from the window and see Justine starting for market, her

"to see their prize chrysanthemums. They really are wonderful! The ol

basket by the spotless kitchen ta

for my sister's children. If I can find a good dressmaker, I really believe I'll have one myself. I think"-

The coolness!-she would say to herself, as she went upstairs-wandering about to shops and greenhouses, and quietly deciding to take a bath befor

she began to entertain the girl with enthusiastic

did all the cooking. And such cookies, and pies, and gingerbread as she made! All for sixteen dollars a month. We regarded Norah as a member of the family, and, even on h

, when her mistress was enlarging upon the ad

ervants? It seems to be their natural element. They love to live in white families, and they have no caste pride. It would seem to be such

have dear old mammies around me again," Mrs. Salisbury sa

rs and gardeners and co

market, where would you girls from the college be?" the othe

ly. "You could hardly expect a colored girl to take the responsibility of much actual managing, I sh

ently impervious to hints. As a matter of fact, she was not an exceptionally bright girl; literal, simple, and from very plain stock, she was merely well trained in her chosen profes

ly is of a very fine family; her father is a doctor. And she has a position with a doctor's family now, right near here, in New

. Salisbury

ons all her life. She

in and find her at the piano, and your friend will

iano without their permission," Justine s

ectly willing to have her us

qui

ey ADOPT

abel is twenty

he doctor

itchell. He's a member o

gainst your friend," she began again presently, "but for a girl in her position to waste her time studying music

nd is quite musical. He plays a church organ. I am going to dinner with them

eur-a salesman?" To do her justice, she knew the question would not offend, for Justine, like any girl from a small town, was not fastidious as to the pos

er, in this case, w

Burton Corners, beyond Burning Woods. But, of course, he hopes for promotion; they all

isbury had been in a bank when she married him; was

, absurd as she felt her own position to be, could not ignore the impertinence of her maid's point of view. Theoretically,

hose of her friends who were still struggling with untrained Maggies and Almas and Chloes. Whatever their faults, these girls were s

little maid occurred to her. She s

it. The ladies were at luncheon. "For a graduate servant can't work with any but a graduate servant;

ed, "isn't it true that you graduates can'

rule," Justi

t you to pay a second girl?" pu

ry person more than two in the family. Then, in that case, the head servant, as we call the cook, would

Fifty-five dollars for the two!" she ejaculated under her breath when the g

econd girl," paid sixteen. And none of these ridiculous and inflexible regulations! Ah, the satisfaction of healthily imposing upon a maid again

rgument hardy enough to survive the blighting breath of his astonishm

r. "I feel that Justine's system is an imposition upon you, dear. It isn't right for a pretty girl of your age to be caught dusting the sitting-ro

like it, he can just come TO! Look at HIS mother, eating dinner the other day with four r

afford to do anything, and consequently it doesn't matter what she does! It doesn't matter w

o with it!" said the girl of th

it," the woman of the passing

e Neighborhood House for boys down on River Street, 'The Cyrus Sargent Memorial.' And, if you please, he's going to LIVE there! It's a ducky house; he showed me the blue-

rs. Salisbury sai

r her mother's concern, "that he'll meet some Madonna-eyed little factor

ndy," the mother supplie

answered composedly, "as it is a question of hi

e scheme of things mundane. "Upon my word, I never saw or heard anything like it!" she observed. "I wonder

figure expressing exasperation and inflexibility. Sandy, smiling sleepily, reopened an interru

dea!" an interrupted novel. But she stared over the op

n't know that that'