One morning I had a great idea which has had the
effect of revolutionising our domestic economy. It was
at the time when the worst pinch was over, and when we
had got back as far as butter and occasional tobacco,
with a milkman calling daily; which gives you a great
sense of swagger when you have not been used to it.
"Paul, my boy," said I, "I see my way to fitting up
this house with a whole staff of servants for nothing."
He looked pleased, but not surprised. He had a
wholly unwarranted confidence in my powers; so that if I
had suddenly declared that I saw my way to tilting Queen
Victoria from her throne and seating myself upon it, he
would have come without a question to aid and abet.
I took a piece of paper and wrote, "To Let. A
basement floor, in exchange for services. Apply 1 Oakley
Villas."
"There, Paul," said I, "run down to the
Evening News office, and pay a shilling for
three insertions."
There was no need of three insertions. One would
have been ample. Within half an hour of the appearance
of the first edition, I had an applicant at the end of my
bell-wire, and for the remainder of the evening Paul was
ushering them in and I interviewing them with hardly a
break. I should have been prepared at the outset to take
anything in a petticoat; but as we saw the demand
increase, our conditions went up and up; white aprons,
proper dress for answering door, doing beds and boots,
cooking,--we became more and more exacting.
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