when they had all answered, “Ho, yes, certingly,” the barefaced minx said, “Here’s hold missus! and hopen has how her trip hup the Rhind will keep her a good month longer at Gravesend.” And then, after a general titter, I could hear them all getting up from their chairs, and saying one after another, “Here’s hold missus!” and sure enough here’s hold missus it was, for in I bounced among them just at that moment, and then it was--“Oh dear, who would have thought it,”--and there was _such_ a scene, no one can tell. Off fainted that under housemaid, right into the arms of Mr. Roberts, and down went my glasses and decanters out of Mr. “Heddard’s” hands, who endeavoured to hide himself under the table, and then over it went; for up jumped Mrs. Fisher from her chair, upsetting my best china tea set in her alarm, while some hid themselves behind the door, and others behind the satin damask ottomans. Then away they all slunk, first one and then another, whilst I was giving it to that Mrs. Fisher, who had got her front fresh baked for the grand occasion. And when I’d given _her_ notice to quit, I went down into the kitchen, and did the same to _every one of them_ there, telling them they need none of them expect any character from me. On Mr. Edward’s arrival, which was just upon a fortnight afterwards, I felt it my duty, of course, to let him know all that had occurred, and what I had done; but my fine gentleman didn’t say a word, and only walked whistling up and down the room; and when I told him that I couldn’t make out what had come to servants now-a-days, for that, do what I would, I could not get a good one, he had the impudence to turn round and say, “No; and you never will, as long as you live, Madam.” “And why shouldn’t I, Mr. Clever?” I inquired. “Because, Mam, good mistresses make good servants.” “Well, indeed!” I answered, “I do admire that. I should rather think it was just the very reverse, and that good servants made good mistresses. I suppose, then, you mean to say that I am not fit to have the management of my own house!” “I do, Caroline. Ah, you may stare; but management, as you call it, or government, as I term it, is not quite so easy a science as you seem to imagine. Every family is in itself a little kingdom, and it requires almost as much knowledge to rule wisely in the one as in the other.” “Very pretty!” I said. “Pray go on; perhaps you will tell me how I _am_ to govern, as _you_ call it?” “Why, madam, there are but two ways. Human nature can only be ruled through its love or through its fears. The one _leads_ our fellow-creatures to serve us as _willing friends_, the other _forces_ them to serve us as _unwilling slaves_. It is for you and other mistresses to choose between the two--remembering that it is the natural disposition of kindness to beget kindness, and of tyranny to beget rebellion?”