he beginning.

But no such untoward event occurred, and my appetite enabled me to do
full justice to Mother Hubbard's preparations. We have come to a
convenient and economical arrangement by which we are to share
supplies, Mother Hubbard being appointed cook, and I housemaid to the
two establishments. In her delight at the prospect of my companionship
the dear old lady was prepared to unite the two offices in her one
person, but this was an impossible proposition, as I promptly pointed
out. She might be prime minister, but not the entire Cabinet.

So we shall take our meals together in her cottage or in mine, as may
be most convenient, and I think I shall be able to spare her some of
the delightful drudgery which is harming her body whilst it leaves her
spirit untouched. Not that I shall ever be able to maintain the
spotless cleanliness which she guards as jealously as a reputation; and
I cannot help thinking that her unwillingness to consent to this part
of the bargain was due in some degree to doubts of my competency. But
I am willing to be taught and corrected, and I will encourage her not
to spare the rod.

CHAPTER IV

THE STUDIO

I have been here a whole week, and as for being busy, I think the
proverbial bee would have to give me points. Monday was occupied with
a variety of odd jobs which were individually insignificant enough but
meant a good deal in the aggregate. First of all I attended to
household duties under the keen but kindly supervision of Mother
Hubbard, and acquitted myself fairly well.

Then I turned my attention to the studio and drew up my plans for its
equipment. A young girl from the village readily undertook the work of
cleaning, and the muscle she put into it was a revelation to me after
my experience of the leisurely ways of London charwomen! I soon
discovered that she is a sworn enemy of every form of dirt--or "muck"
as she prefers to call it--that she has a profound contempt for all
modern cleansing substances and mechanical methods, and a supreme and
unshakable belief in the virtues of soft soap, the scrubbing-brush, and
"elbow-grease."

Four hours of "Sar'-Ann" brought joy to my heart and sweetness to my
studio.

Then, with some difficulty, for he was at work in the fields, I found a
sturdy and very diffident young man who has had some experience of
carpentry, and who can also wield a paint-brush. To him I explained my
requirements, and also handed over the plan