On the present occasion she stood quietly by while the MacShaughnassy method of fire-laying was expounded to her. When Ethelbertha had finished she simply said:—
“You want me to lay the fires like that?”
“Yes, Amenda, we’ll always have the fires laid like that in future, if you please.”
“All right, mum,” replied Amenda, with perfect unconcern, and there the matter ended, for that evening.
On coming downstairs the next morning we found the breakfast table spread very nicely, but there was no breakfast. We waited. Ten minutes went by—a quarter of an hour—twenty minutes. Then Ethelbertha rang the bell. In response Amenda presented herself, calm and respectful.
“Do you know that the proper time for breakfast is half-past eight, Amenda?”
“Yes’m.”
“And do you know that it’s now nearly nine?”
“Yes’m.”
“Well, isn’t breakfast ready?”