Little maid Marigold

by Eleanora H. Stooke

"The boys are at school most of the day," Marigold responded, "but mother—she will miss me dreadfully!"

There was a break in her voice as she spoke, and the ready tears welled into her eyes again. Miss Pamela shot a scathing glance at her sister, which was met by one of pure bewilderment. With the best intentions in the world, Miss Holcroft was a decidedly tactless person, and to remind Marigold how she would be missed at home was certainly unwise. Miss Pamela rang the bell, and told the parlour-maid to take Miss Marigold to her room.

"We shall have tea in about half an hour," she explained to the little girl, "so you will have plenty of time to remove the traces of your journey. Barker shall unpack your box for you by and by."

Marigold found a bright, sunny bedroom had been allotted to her, out of the window of which she had an excellent view of all the other houses in the crescent. She turned approving eyes upon the pretty brass bed with its chintz curtains, and the suite of white enamelled furniture looking so dainty and fresh, and evidently arranged with an eye to comfort as well as elegance. Close to the window was a small writing-table, on which stood a glass vase containing a bunch of white violets. It was altogether the prettiest bedroom Marigold had ever seen, she thought, as she mentally compared it with her little cupboard of a room at home.

Presently Barker came to her assistance, and brushed the dust from her blue serge frock, and proceeded to comb her hair. Marigold felt shy and uncomfortable, for she was accustomed to wait on herself, and Barker's face, as reflected by the glass on the dressing-table, was grim and unsmiling.

She was a plain-faced woman of about forty, and had been with her present mistresses for many years. Truth to tell, she did not approve of the new arrival, for she was not fond of children, and was anything but pleased to find she would be expected to assist Marigold in her toilette if necessary. She had yet to discover how few services at her hands the little girl would require.

"Thank you," Marigold said, with a sense of relief, when Barker had at last tied back her hair with its dark blue ribbon. "I am very much obliged to you."

"There's the tea-bell, miss!" Barker exclaimed. "You'd best make haste down, for the ladies don't like to be kept waiting. Come, I'll show you the room."

Marigold followed Barker downstairs and into the dining-room, where Miss Holcroft and Miss Pamela were already seated at the large square table that occupied the centre of the room, the latter with the tea-tray in front of her.

"You will sit here at my left hand," Miss Pamela told Marigold; "that will be your place at mealtimes. We breakfast at eight, dine at half-past one, and partake of tea at five o'clock punctually. My sister and I have our supper at nine, but that is too late for you. I shall expect you to be in bed every night by nine o'clock, so you will find your supper ready for you an hour earlier. We are simple folks, and never dine late. What are you saying Mary?"