ill
hand the soup, fish, meat, or side-dishes to the different members of
the family; but in families who do not spend much of the day together,
they will probably prefer being alone at dinner and breakfast; the
housemaid will be required, after all are helped, if her master does not
wish her to stay in the room, to go on with her work of cleaning up in
the pantry, and answer the bell when rung. In this case she will place a
pile of plates on the table or a dumbwaiter, within reach of her master
and mistress, and leave the room.

[Illustration: CRUMB-BRUSH].

2321. Dinner over, the housemaid removes the plates and dishes on the
tray, places the dirty knives and forks in the basket prepared for them,
folds up the napkins in the ring which indicates by which member of the
family it has been used, brushes off the crumbs on the hand-tray kept
for the purpose, folds up the table-cloth in the folds already made, and
places it in the linen-press to be smoothed out. After every meal the
table should be rubbed, all marks from hot plates removed, and the
table-cover thrown over, and the room restored to its usual order. If
the family retire to the drawing-room, or any other room, it is a good
practice to throw up the sash to admit fresh air and ventilate the room.

2322. The housemaid's evening service consists in washing up the
dinner-things, the plate, plated articles, and glasses, restoring
everything to its place; cleaning up her pantry, and putting away
everything for use when next required; lastly, preparing for tea, as the
time approaches, by setting the things out on the tray, getting the urn
or kettle ready, with cream and other things usually partaken of at that
meal.

2323. In summer-time the windows of all the bedrooms, which have been
closed during the heat of the day, should be thrown open for an hour or
so after sunset, in order to air them. Before dark they should be
closed, the bedclothes turned down, and the night-clothes laid in order
for use when required. During winter, where fires are required in the
dressing-rooms, they should be lighted an hour before the usual time of
retiring, placing a fire-guard before each fire. At the same time, the
night-things on the horse should be placed before it to be aired, with a
tin can of hot water, if the mistress is in the habit of washing before
going to bed. We may add, that there is no greater preservative of
beauty than washing the face every night in hot water. T