The Girls Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 355, October 16, 1886 | Page 9

for disputing the point when Mr. Hastings spoke in
that decided tone; moreover, the girls themselves would have said just
the same--that someone must go; but the question was, "who?"
"Kate, it must be you," said Ella, eagerly. "I do not know anything
about nursing or housekeeping, or anything of that sort, and you know I
always say and do the wrong thing."
Mrs. Hastings looked anxious and perplexed. "I really do not know
what to do for the best," she said. "I do not see how I can spare you,
Kate; for if I have one of my bad attacks I must have you at hand; and
you see, Ella, you would have everything to learn here just as much as
at Hapsleigh, and I think you would find teaching the children very
hard work."
Kate, the eldest daughter, was her mother's unfailing assistant, and
almost entirely relieved her of the care of the three little ones; indeed,
during Mrs. Hastings's frequent attacks of asthma, Kate was both ready
and able to take entire charge of the household, and she felt that to
leave her mother with only Ella's help would be throwing more care
upon her than her delicate health could bear. She spoke decidedly,
therefore; and, after a little more discussion, it was agreed that Ella

should accompany her father, prepared to stay as long as she might be
required.
The rest of the day was fully occupied with packing and making
arrangements. Ella was rather apt to let her clothing take care of itself,
and, in a sudden emergency such as this, had to borrow right and left.
Indeed, Mrs. Hastings and Kate were both kept busy all the afternoon
looking over and supplying the deficiencies in her outfit.
"That dressing-gown will not do at all, Ella. It is most important to
have a thoroughly warm one when you have to sit up at night. Yours is
very pretty, but blue cashmere and lace are not suitable for a sick room
in cold weather. You will have to borrow Kate's thick flannel gown.
You should have my quilted silk one, but in such a great thickness of
material one's arms do not feel quite free to help an invalid, or shake up
a bed."
"Here it is, Ella," rejoined Kate; "and I have brought you my thick
bedroom slippers, too. They are not so elegant as your Turkish ones,
but they are much warmer. Be sure you keep them by the side of your
bed, so that you can slip them on directly if you are called up suddenly.
You know you take cold so easily, and it would be so awkward if you
had one of your bad throats at Hapsleigh."
Mrs. Hastings felt very anxious about her daughter, called upon so
suddenly to 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