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nearly done. Again she stammered "Yes, ma'am."

"Then you may begin to cook your steak now," said Mrs. Harley. The child was ordered to her cold kitchen, and there was a dead calm.

It was dinner-time. Mr. Harley came home, and Dorcas was told to bring up dinner. While they were waiting for its arrival, Mrs. Harley was expatiating on Dorcas's good qualities.

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Why," said she, "I shouldn't wonder if in time we made out to do very well alone with her. The child does not seem half as awkward as I expected; these societies, after all, have a very good influence on poor children; they make them obedient and kind, and really I think that we shall never regret having taken one from its secluded walls. Do just come in the nursery, husband; I want to show you some flowers I have been arranging to wear in my hair to-night at Mrs. Blake's, while Johnny was asleep and Dorcas getting dinner."

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"I am in such haste, my dear, I cannot look at them now. Let's have dinner: I engaged to meet a man on business at three this afternoon," said Mr. Harley.

"Dorcas, bring up dinner!" vociferated Mrs. Harley, at the top of the stairs. No dinner came, and Mr. Harley, not his wife, ran down to see the cause of the delay. What was his consternation at finding little Dorcas curled up in a chair, alternately looking at the pictures in an old almanac, and the boys as they coasted down the hill. Not a spark glimmered on the hearth. The breakfast relics were scattered on the table, while the potatoes were still ensconced in the barrel, and the steak in the closet!

"Well, wife," said Mr. Harley, "we are in a fine predicament, I must confess."

"What has happened to put you in such a fluster?" said the astonished wife. "Your eyes glisten like a maniac's!" While attempting thus to divine the cause, as she was disposing a bit of blonde lace over some flowers, Mr. Harley took his hat and left the house. Alarmed at such an unusual proceeding, she threw down the lace and made her way to the kitchen. Ungovernable tempers often vent themselves in harsh expressions; we will not disgrace Mrs. Harley by repeating hers; suffice it to say, poor Dorcas fell faster than a ther

mometer, by a sudden change from heat to cold, in Mrs. Harley's estimation. Instead of a comfort, she had a torment. She could not endure it: anger, sorrow, and self-reproach found vent in tears, and in the depths of despair to bring about a better state of things, she resolved to dress herself and go to Mrs. Hunt's, and if money and persuasion could prevail, to use both lavishly to procure the immediate services of the housekeeper. "It is high time," thought she, "to conciliate my husband's esteem."

Intent on this scheme, Dorcas was left with John, feeling that her new home was not as pleasant as the one she had left: a scanty meal was provided for her there; now she had none, because she could not provide for others.

The "experienced housekeeper," as luck would have it, had gone on a visit to her daughter in a neighbouring town; but Mrs. Hunt, kindly disposed towards her suffering friend, offered her the help of her chamber-maid, whom she was about sending away that very afternoon, adding, by way of recommendation, that "poor help is better than none." Mrs. Harley, having a vivid recollection of Dorcas,

could not coincide with the remark, but supposing age was synonymous with usefulness in a domestic, concluded Bridget would do for a few days. Now Bridget was a stout Irish woman, who counted her beads, made confession of her sins (which were many), and attended mass regularly, and all the wakes to which she was invited.

About five that afternoon she entered upon service in Mrs. Harley's employ, who did not see her till she appeared in person at her door, to which she had been directed with extreme accuracy, lest she might go to the wrong place, as she had done once before.

CHAPTER IV.

THE IRISH COOK.

"AND what does your ladyship require of me?" asked Bridget, as she courtesied before her mistress. "It sure is not all the work you are about setting me to do, for it is not me who am accustomed to all sorts of labour."

"I suppose you can do plain cooking?" asked Mrs. Harley; "at least you must try your hand at it a few days, until my housekeeper arrives?"

"And may I ask your ladyship who she is to be?"

"Why, Mrs. Hopkins, Bridget; she with whom you have been living. I thought Mrs. Hunt told you."

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Indade not," said Bridget, colouring deeply; if it's her who is to be my mistress, I will be after walking full shortly. Since I came to Ameriky I have never seen her like, and, by the powers, I have lived in all sorts of families; howsomdever, it's not looking well in me to

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