r aunt to
dismiss and replace several worthless servants. There had been a grand
cleaning, dusting, and polishing; the drawing-room was rearranged, the
compound cleared and tidied, flowers decorated the sitting-rooms--and
the hens had been interned.

All this Sophy had not contrived to manage without assistance and
advice; several German ladies had been to call, to inspect, to offer
instruction, and to criticise. There was Mrs. Muller, a remarkably
pretty, smart young woman (wife of the head of an important firm, who
spoke English perfectly, played bridge and the violin). She and Sophy
had an interesting musical talk, and arranged about duets and
practisings; it was she who helped with regard to weeding out the
staff, finding substitutes, and engaging a _dirzee_ to mend and make.
Augusta Muller was a born administrator, and the head of the
neighbouring community. Another visitor was Frau Wendel, a dowdy
middle-aged woman, who wore a hideous check cotton gown (much too
short), green spectacles, and velvet boots; she stared hard at Sophy
and asked her many personal questions. There was also the Baroness--a
little lady with small patrician features, faded light hair and a brisk
manner; and last, but by no means least, Frau Wurm, who daily arrived
to fulfil a promise to Herr Krauss, and every morning, for one solid
hour, imparted to Sophy instruction in the management of native
servants, the reckoning of bazaar accounts, the coinage--rupees and
pice--and the proper way to keep house linen and stores. She also gave
her lessons in cooking on the oil stove in the veranda--not invalid
delicacies, but dishes that were favourites with the master of the
house, including confitures and Russian salad.

Frau Wurm was a competent teacher--practical and brisk. She drew up a
list of menus, of shops to be dealt at, and hours for different tasks.
As she worked she talked incessantly in excellent guttural English; her
talk consisted of a series of personal and impertinent questions--her
curiosity was of the mean and hungry class, and to every reply,
satisfactory or otherwise, she invariably ejaculated, "Ach so!"

Among other matters she desired to know Sophy's age--the age of her
mother--and sister; if their washing was given out; who had paid for
her passage and outfit; where her mother lived, the rent of her house,
and number of servants.

"So she keeps _three_ servants!" she exclaimed. "Ach! but I thought
she was poor!"