Mistress and Maid | Page 2

sent word you'd take on
trial," said Mrs. Hand, addressing herself to Selina, who, as the tallest,
the best dressed, and the most imposing, was usually regarded by
strangers as the head of the family.
"Oh. Joanna, my dear."
Miss Leaf came forward, rather uncertainly, for she was of a shy nature,

and had been so long accustomed to do the servant's work of the
household, that she felt quite awkward in the character of mistress.
Instinctively she hid her poor hands, that would at once have betrayed
her to the sharp eyes of the working-woman, and then, ashamed of her
momentary false pride, laid them outside her apron and sat down.
"Will you take a chair, Mrs. Hand? My sister told you. I believe all our
requirements We only want a good, intelligent girl. We are willing to
teach her every thing."
"Thank you, kindly; and I be willing and glad for her to learn, ma'am,"
replied the mother, her sharp and rather free tone subdued in spite of
herself by the gentle voice of Miss Leaf. Of course, living in the same
country town, she knew all about the three school-mistresses, and how
till now they had kept no servant. "It's her first place, and her'll be
awk'ard at first, most like. Hold up your head, Lizabeth."
"Is her name Elizabeth?"
"Far too long and too fine," observed Selina from the sofa. "Call her
Betty."
"Any thing you please, Miss; but I call her Lizabeth. It wor my young
missis' name in my first place, and I never had a second."
"We will call her Elizabeth," said Miss Leaf, with the gentle decision
she could use on occasion.
There was a little more discussion between the mother and the future
mistress as to holidays, Sundays, and so on, during which time the new
servant stood silent and impassive in the door-way between the back
kitchen and the kitchen, or, as it is called in those regions, the
house-place.
As before said, Elizabeth was by no means, a personable girl, and her
clothes did not set her off to advantage. Her cotton frock hung in
straight lines down to her ankles, displaying her clumsily shod feet and
woolen stockings; above it was a pinafore--a regular child's pinafore, of

the cheap, strong, blue-speckled print which in those days was
generally worn. A little shabby shawl, pinned at the throat, and pinned
very carelessly and crookedly, with an old black bonnet, much too
small for her large head and her quantities of ill kept hair, completed
the costume. It did not impress favorably a lady who, being, or rather
having been very handsome herself, was as much alive to appearances
as the second Miss Leaf.
She made several rather depreciatory observations, and insisted
strongly that the new servant should only be taken "on trial," with no
obligation to keep her a day longer than they wished. Her feeling on the
matter communicated itself to Johanna, who closed the negotiation with
Mrs. Hand, by saying.
"Well, let us hope your daughter will suit us. We will give her a fair
chance at all events."
"Which is all I can ax for, Miss Leaf. Her bean't much to look at, but
her's willin' sharp, and her's never told me a lie in her life. Courtesy to
thy missis, and say thee'lt do thy best, Lizabeth."
Pulled forward Elizabeth did courtesy, but she never offered to speak.
And Miss Leaf, feeling that for all parties the interview had better be
shortened, rose from her chair.
Mrs. Hand took the hint and departed, saying only, "Good-by,
Lizabeth," with a nod, half-encouraging, half-admonitory, which
Elizabeth silently returned. That was all the parting between mother
and daughter; they neither kissed nor shook hands, which
undemonstrative farewell somewhat surprised Hilary.
Now, Miss Hilary Leaf had all this while gone on toasting. Luckily for
her bread the fire was low and black; meantime, from behind her long
drooping curls (which Johanna would not let her "turn up," though she
was twenty), she was making her observations on the new servant. It
might be that, possessing more head than the one and more heart than
the other, Hilary was gifted with deeper perception of character than
either of her sisters, but certainly her expression, as she watched

Elizabeth, was rather amused and kindly that dissatisfied.
"Now, girl, take off your bonnet," said Selina, to whom Johanna had
silently appealed in her perplexity as to the next proceeding with regard
to the new member of the household.
Elizabeth obeyed, and then stood, irresolute, awkward, and wretched to
the last degree, at the furthest end of the house-place.
"Shall I show you where to hang up your things?" said Hilary, speaking
for the first time; and at the new voice, so quick, cheerful, and pleasant,