“2 lady’s maids, bootler, 3 chamber-mades—cook—in fack all nicessary sarvants for a big coontry place. Now first of all—a thoruly first-class cook—er——” Minnie had pushed me forward and I wint up bashfully befure her. “Cum along” ses she, and she tuk me down stares into a grate long room, wid about twinty or thirty ladies sitting in grand drisses on sofies. She leeds me up to a stout old-yung lady sitting forward on the idge of wan of the sofies. “This” ses Miss Flimflam in the swatest voyce, “is Mrs. Regal. Tell her all about yersilf Delia.” The lady sits a bit further forward and lifts up wan of thim spicticles on top of a reel gold shtick called in Frinch Lorgons. “How old are you?” ses she. “Twinty” ses I. “——five” puts in Minnie quickly, for she’d cum down wid me. “Ah 25. How minny yeers have you cooked?” “Well mam—” I began, whin Minnie put in—“Tin yeers.” “What wages did you get at your last place?” “Twinty——” I began. “Twinty a week” ses Minnie boldly. The lady looked tarribly startled. “Hoo did you wark for? Lit me see your riferinces” ses she. Minnie hands her the boonch of papers shes after bringing along for me, and the lady looks at them throo her lorgon. Me own riference from Mrs. Wolley, which Miss Clare handed me proudly as I was stipping out, I also had handed to the lady, and I’m all oopset and red wid anger at the pinch on me arm Minnie is after giving me. The lady looks up wid her eyes frowning. “Why these riferinces are for 2 differunt girls” ses she. “Luk at that, wud yer?” ses Minnie, playfully. “Now didnt she after be giving you _my_ riferences too by mishtake? _This_ is mine” ses she, and tuk the letter frum Mrs. Wolley frum the lady’s hand. “Hoom.” Ses the lady, and looks me over frum hed to foot throo her lorgon. “Whats your name?” ses she, and refers to the letters. “Delia” ses I innercently, “Miss Delia O’Malley if you plaze mam.” She set up stiff. Then she got up and putrified me wid a horty stare. Then she swipt over to Miss Flimflam, her silk pitticoat swishing behind her wid anger. Miss Flimflam cum over to me and grabbed me by the arm. She pushed me tord the stair. “Minnie” ses I upstares, “its seeries throuble youve got me into now.” “Shaw!” ses Minnie, “Its dun ivery day. They no it. Delia theres twinty ladies for ivery wan girl. Your safe from anny blacklist darlint.” We seen Miss Flimflam cuming in at the door, and me gilty hart misgiving me, I grabbed Minnie by the arm and we wint out of wan dure as Miss Flimflam wint in by anuther. “Delia, its a gump you are” ses Minnie with scorn, “but never mind, ye’ve dun enuff for to-day. We’ll be back to-morrow.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER V FOLLOWING DAY Awoke. Arose again at 8:30. Dressed. Washed. Minnie and I interfiewed the follering ladies in regard to a position.