We do not hesitate to lay out money in improvements on our farms. Why, then, need we fear to arrange our dwellings in accordance with principles of true economy, so that the ladies of our families may be able to co-operate with us in advancing the benefit of all? Every family might be its own Economical Housekeeping Company (Limited), comprising in itself its shareholders and board of directors, realizing cent. per cent. for its money, because £200 a year would go as far as £400. If we save the money we now spend upon keeping servants to do our work for us, we shall have more to spend on our holidays, and so shall feel all the more refreshed by our respite from work. Much is said in this book about superfluities, but although some passages may seem to give colour to such an idea, it is by no means wished to convey the recommendation that our homes and lives are to be bare of beauty. On the contrary, I hanker after profusion and love plenty, but wish them to be placed where they will not give more labour than pleasure, where they will not hamper our every movement at every moment, making us ever wear a sort of moral tight kid-gloves, be the weather hot or cold. The rock which theories split upon is that they generally presuppose that we can make our lives, and are in independent position and good circumstances, whereas this is seldom the case. The majority of us are neither in good circumstances nor independent: often we have had no control over the purchase of our very furniture; so we must make the best of what we have, only, when we have the opportunity of making a change, let it be a reform as well as a change. My main object in writing this essay has been to show how frequently, and in how short a time, the saving effected by a reform covers the cost of carrying it out. In the case of young couples about to marry, and beginning to plan their lives, any work will be good which aids them to lay down their plans according to rules of economy and common sense. _January, 1877._ CONTENTS PAGE THE DIFFICULTY. Impossibility of getting good servants--Over-civilization--Labour has been made hideous--Sleeping partnership--Wealth exempt from this difficulty--Refinement of the professional class--Credit--Phase of insecurity and scarcity--Sweet are the uses of adversity--English people do not fear work--Servants too readily changed--Wilfulness of servants--Upper servants are easily obtained--Servants feel the pressure of the times--Ornamental servants costly luxuries--Two questions--Work must be efficiently done--Woman's work--Misuse of time--We keep servants to wait upon each other--Idleness--Pleasure made a toil 1 THE REMEDY.