Polly

entioned individual put, to use a well-known phrase, his foot more completely into it than Dr. Maybri

e of color on the invalid's countenance but called for his acute observation. In household matters, however, he was apt to overlook trifles, and very often completely to forget what seemed to his family important arrangements. He was the kind of man who was

re rinsings of the tea-pot he would drink it instead of soup; and I say, and always will say, that ef a cook don't jelly the

airly well, and his house tolerably clean, and the domestic machinery wen

ntlest and firmest of mistresses, this most tactful of women, kept all things in

he little girl skipped into his study after breakfast, with her black frock put on more neatly than usual, her hair well brushed and pushed off her face, and a wo

he said. "I have come

what, m

ye-glass, and surveyed the

"It is not a bad idea; only don't lose them, Polly.

s-they were bright, dark, clear. Of course Helen's horrid story was untrue. Her

ctual; my housekeeping begins on Monday, you know, and I've come for the eighty shillings now. Can you give it

pounds in gold and two pounds in silver. I can't manage more than two sovereigns' worth of silver, I fear. Now my love, as yo

father, dear father, you will let Paul and Virginia come? Nell and I meant to speak to you yesterday about them, but you were out all day. With me to housek

e I not a large enough family without taking in the inhabitants of a desert island? There, I

f the hand, and the "God bless you, doctor," paid in many cases better than the guinea's worth. He had an interesting case this morning, and again Polly and her housekeeping slipped from his mind. He was surprised, therefore, in the inte

ck the blue muslin curtains, and take them down from where they was hung by my late blessed mistress's orders, in the spare room, and to fit them into the primrose room over the porch-for she says there's a Miss Virginy and a Master Paul coming, and the primrose room with the blue curtains is f

t is my patients' bell, I must ask you to go, Alice, and to-to moderate your feelings. I have been anxious to give Miss Po

e door as he spoke, and

was accompanied by a shy boy with a swelled face. "Come in

smaller in her life than when Dr. Maybri

," she remarked. "Eh, but he's a blessed man, and one woul

ore formidable interview was in store for him; it was one thing to conquer Alice, who was impressionable

"It's to give notice. This day month, please, Doctor, and, though I says it as shouldn't, you won't get no one else to jelly your soups, nor feather your potat

te mistress's testimony. You cook very good dinners too, and you make suitable puddings for the children, and pastry not too

er havaricious nor grasping. I'm obligated too by what you says with respect to the pastry; but, Doctor, it ain't in mortal woman to stand a chit of a child bein

hat Polly's experience would upset the household economy in so marked a manner

, for I says to myself, 'Jane Power, you was once, so to speak, like an unfledged chick yourself;' but

y," said t

ying. Now I don't say nothing agin Miss Nelly-she's the elder, and she have nice ways with her-

skywards, and the Doctor, turnin

said, "I am pre

r roast beef? And shall we have fruit tart with custard?' Pretty dear, she don't know nothink, and she owns it, and I counsel her, as who that wasn't the most hard-hearted would. But Miss Polly, she's all on wires like, and she bounds in and she says that I pepper the s

Power, I have promised my little girl, and I feel more than convinced that her week's trial will ensure to you the

nd are you to be poi

y. Let us consider it arranged, then. A week's holiday won't do you any harm, cook, and your expenses