ess and brush Lady T.'s perukes;
walk out with dogs if weather is fine, and be careful to prevent
their making any acquaintances whatever.

"Evening--Read to Lady T., write notes, look over bills, and keep
general accounts; if not wanted, to make herself useful in
housekeeper's room, and obey all orders received from her or head
tirewoman. At night see that the hot water is ready for Lady T.'s
feet, and wait for her retiring to bed; wash Lady T.'s feet, and
cut corns, as required; read Lady T. to sleep, or, if not required
to read, wait till she is certain that Lady T. is so.

"Now the only points in which I think your daughter may fail is in
properly washing, combing, and examining the dogs, and cutting her
ladyship's corns; but surely she can practice a little of both, as
she will not be wanted for a month. There can be no difficulty
about the first; and as for the latter, as all people in your rank
of life have corns, she may practice upon yours or her father's. At
all events, there can be no want of corns in Greenwich Hospital
among the pensioners. I am desired to say that Lady T. gives no
wages the first year; and you will be expected to send your
daughter neatly fitted out, that she may be able to remain in the
room when there is company. If this offer will not suit, I can do
nothing more; the difficulty of patronage increases every day. You
will send an answer.

"VIRGINIA HAWKINGTREFYLYAN.

"I was just closing my letter when Lady Scrimmage came in; she tells me
that Lady Towser is suited, and that you have no hopes of this
situation. I have done my best. Lady Scrimmage has, however, informed me
that she thinks she can, upon my recommendation, do something for you in
Greenwich, as she deals largely with a highly respectable and
fashionable milliner of the same name as your own, and with whom it
would be of the greatest advantage to your daughter to be placed as an
apprentice, or something of that sort. This is an opportunity not to be
lost, and I therefore have requested Lady S. to write immediately, and I
trust by _my patronage_, she will gain a _most enviable situation_."

"That postscript is admirable," observed I, "and ought to have put my
mother in a good humor. Is she not called by Lady Hercules 'highly
respectable and fashionable'?"

"Very true," replied Virginia; "but my mother cannot ge