The suburban citizen., 1901-08-17
ATANY

supposed 20 be their unavoidable fran,
of mind and effective tests cannot bC
arranged every day.
How do you think you are getting
on, dearI" asked Mrs. Challinor ono
day.
What do you suppose a perfect
stranger would think who was to see
us together in your drawing room any
eveningT'
''Th0t is rather an unreasonable
| question. How can l put myself in
the position Of a perfect strangerY
"You don't want to hurt my feelings.
Both Of us know perfectly well that
Mr.. Benn and l are not getting on at
all. We are good friends and that is
the beginning and end of it. He Is
decidedly heavy, and he thinks 1 dab
bic in lot of things and do none well.
think l shall have to play my final
card and show my greatest accom-
plishment OF all and l don't believe
you would ever guess what 1t is"
For goodness sake, don't ask me to
guess. never could guess even the
herring and a half for three half pence
riddle. It's a mystery TO me yet. Tell
me at once"
Rachel told her secret in a whisper.
"Whatw shouted Mrs. Challinor,
"why on earth did you not say so at
first? You might have been Rachel
Benn now He is always in Difficult
ties with his servants-he is in difficult
ties now. He was telling me about it
last evening while you were playing
that wedding march from Lohengrin.
When did you learnT
Last year, when 1 began to grow
desperate. l did it on purpose and
worked very hard. 1 thought it might
be my most deadly weapon sometime.
l kept 1t to the last, because when
man of Mr.. Benn's stamp knows his
wife can cook he generally expects her
to live in the kitchen and to read
nothing but cookery books. So want
ed to show l could do other things as
well and was not a mere domestic
drudge. l hoped to succeed without
bringing it in at all, but I'm afraid I
must"
my dear, your fortune is made.
How very sensible you are! 1t is a
pity other girls don't do the Same
thing. You must promise now to put
yourself in my hands. l will see you
don't fail"
She summoned Mr., Benn that even
ing and asked him if his domestic diff
hculties were at an end"
Alas, no." he said. II am in chaos.
The housemaid won't stay and the
housekeeper won't go. She says she
knows a good place when she finds
one and she is not going to leave me to
myself In the meantime she cooks
/ have not had a com
Portable meal in my own house for
nearly a fortnight and her extrava.
gance is beyond all bounds. Her
weekly bills simply make my hair
stand on end"
Il think ! can help you. heard Of
a housekeeper the other day who, be-
lieve would just suit you. If you will
get rid Of yours or give me authority
to do so l will see if can get the per-
son | spoke Of to come"
He thanked her profusely, agreed to
everything she proposed and left the
matter in her hands.
She was at his house when he came
home on the following evening.
Mrs. Jones has gone" she said. 81
have persuaded the housemaid to stay
and have interviewed the houCe-
Keeper l told you Of. She is willing to
come but cannot do so until to-mor-
row. l could not persuade cook to do
anything for you, but she has very
kindly allowed the kitchen maid to
come down and she is getting dinner
Tor you now. Cook has not much |
opinion Of her, but l hope she will be
able to manage something"
The dinner was uneatable and poor
Mr. Benn almost cried with disgust
Turing the evening. He went up to |
he Challinors before bedtime and they |
with him. 1t appeared |
he new hOusekeeper had promised to |
come in plenty Of time to cook the din
ler the next evening and she had the
very highest credentials. Rachel sang
Home, Sweet Home" and looked very
pretty. If Mr.. Benn's mind had only
been free from those miserable dom
esic worries he could not have failed
10 see how exceedingly charming she
was.
Mrs. ChallinOT met him at his own
loor again the following evening. She
said the housekeeper had come. but
had asked as favor that she should
lot see Mr.. Benn for a week. She was
/ lady by birth and had never before
1ken such position. She felt. there
,ore, little shy at first and was not
iure If she would stay.
Again Mr.. Benn almost shed tears
'ver his dinner, but this time they
we're tears Of delight. Never since he
lad lost his first housekeeper, who had
married. a butler and set up a private
lotel, had he enjoyed such a dinner.
ither in his own house or any other
1t went on for a week. More than
nee he wanted to see his new guar
Ian angel and to thank her personal
y, but Mrs. Challinor forbade Il She
nid "a xvn-111 bo voeovAo.1