take up such important and unexpected duties, and gave her a
great deal of loving counsel.

"You will have to manage to get up earlier, dear child," she said. "You
know Aunt Mary's servants are always rather inclined to go their own
way, and they may perhaps try to take advantage of her illness to keep
irregular hours and slight their work; and you must remember that you
will be responsible for good order in the house, and that is impossible
unless all the household are regular and punctual in beginning their
day's work at the proper time. I will let you have my little clock, and
you can set the alarum at whatever time you wish to get up."

"Yes; I really am going to turn over a new leaf about that; but you
know, mother, I shall feel more obliged to get up now when I am
responsible for things going right. Oh, dear! what a dreadful thought! I
am sure I shall never manage. Why, I can't cook, and I can't keep
accounts, and I have no idea how many pounds of meat people want for
dinner. I shall order a tin of Australian meat, and just have it at
every meal till it is finished, and then get another."

"I am afraid the servants will soon give you notice if you do, Ella,"
said Mrs. Hastings, laughing at her daughter's ideas of housekeeping.
"You will soon get accustomed to the size of joints and puddings, if you
get into the habit of noticing them, remembering how long they last. But
there are two other pieces of advice which I want you to remember and to
act upon. If your father decides that it is necessary for you to stay
and act as mistress, he will tell the servants so; but you must assert
yourself as mistress at once, and take everything into your own hands.
You will find it rather difficult at first, but it will save you a great
deal of trouble in the end. I have seen endless discomfort caused by
young and timid housekeepers not liking to take the reins into their own
hands. But, at the same time, be very careful never to interfere or
complain, unless you are quite sure that it is necessary, and that you
are in the right. If you are in any doubt you can always consult Mrs.
Mobberly; and you must make allowances for the fact that the servants
have always been allowed to do pretty much what they liked, and will
naturally expect to continue doing so; therefore do not complain unless
you have unmistakable grounds for it, and never, under any
circumstances, speak hastily or angrily. If you are put out, wait till
your vexatio