I had placed a volume of engravings before my eyes, and was busily engaged in drawing some plan, on paper, as she entered. I went on for a little while in silence, when she said: 'I understood, sir----' I said 'wait a minute,' and went on ruling one entire side, with double lines, in perfect forgetfulness of her presence. When she spoke again, 'Did you send for me, sir?' I would have answered at once, for I felt awfully at appearing such a tyro; but the case was a desperate one of long standing, and required heroic treatment. I kept her waiting, at first as a lesson, that her imagination might take wings and fly to the uttermost realms of unhappiness. The second time, I thought I detected a little impatience in her voice, so I said, taking a pen and dipping it in red ink, 'wait one moment, Susan,' and went on lining and interlining. This was not reading, studying, nor writing; it was what she very well knew I could do any time. So it told on her. Each moment her valor oozed out, and as soon as I felt that the cup of bitterness was pretty well drained, I proceeded to offer up this victim as a sacrifice to peace. 'Susan, how is your sister's child?' I looked straight into her. There was no sternness or smartness in my expression, but the gaze was mathematical. I was measuring her candor, and analyzing her mind. She colored up and said, 'he's no better, sir; and they've given him up: but the doctor says good nursing will do wonders.' 'I think so, too. Go back to your sister and stay till he is better; I will supply your place.' This puzzled her, but she could say nothing. I meant 'go' and she went.--There was no delay--I saw her walk by the window almost at once, and overheard the whisper, 'who next?' I now rang the bell, and Dinah came to the door, saying, before she knocked, the waiter is out, sir, so I answered your ring. 'Do you know where Thomas lives?' 'Yes sir.' 'Then tell him I want him now--' 'Yes sir,' she disappeared. Oh the benefit of that _slam_. In half an hour in walked Thomas. 'Never do you enter my room without knocking. It is a piece of impertinence I will not put up with.' 'I did not mean anything by it, sir.' 'Well, don't do it again, and always take your hat off when you come before a gentleman or lady. Such ignorance might lose you a good place.' His wages were high I knew. It was also winter, and he gave in. He stood still with his hat in hand and waited. 'Thomas I want you to bring the close carriage to the door with the two bays.' 'Yes sir; but the off horse cast his hind shoe yesterday and I am afraid.' 'You need not be, the ground is covered with snow. I shall want the carriage in fifteen minutes.' 'Yes sir, but--' 'But what?' 'I left the carriage this morning at the blacksmiths to have a new tire put on it, sir.' 'Who told you to?' 'Nobody, sir.' 'Then never do anything of that kind again without first reporting it to me.'