Any one who takes the trouble to reflect upon the multifarious occupations of a female domestic, in a family where but one is kept, cannot but perceive the absolute necessity of a regular plan of proceedings, and also of the need there is for consideration, and patience, and kindness. With all the activity and good-will in the world, it is physically impossible that a girl can be in two places at once; and yet she may be just performing some nice operation in cookery, while a visitor may be knocking at the door, and her mistress ringing impatiently to have something done towards tidying herself or the apartment. How is this to be managed? It can only be settled quietly by the mistress bestirring herself, and aiding in smoothing the difficulty. Where two or more servants are kept, one should always be tidy and ready to answer the door, and the lady of the house and her apartments should always be _mis à quatre épingles_, or, in other words, in such order that a visit from royalty itself would scarcely create any bustle. Indeed, the test of a well-arranged establishment is the absence of all fuss. The advent of relatives from the country, bent on finding a home and a bed there, the arrival of unexpected guests to dinner, or any such like unexpected events, will, of course, slightly derange the economy of a household, especially if it be a small one; but _our_ housewife will not allow this to be visible. Quietly and without fuss she will take opportunities of giving the necessary orders; and if her servants are regularly trained, they will comprehend and second her at once. In every house spare sheets, blankets, and bed-clothes should always be kept aired, in case of their being required on any sudden emergency, and this can be done by laying them between the palliasse and mattress of any bed in regular use. We have before spoken of the advantage of always having the store-closet well supplied. It is a great mistake to fancy that anything is saved by purchasing articles that will keep in small quantities, and certainly the loss of time incurred by having constantly to send out for trifles, is both a great waste and a great inconvenience. No servant can get through her work properly if she has repeatedly to run out on errands, or if she is called off frequently on some frivolous pretext. A mistress is quite right in exacting from her servants a regular and proper fulfilment of all their duties; but on her part she must give them time and opportunity to do this. If she sees they want method, she must try to teach them; and, through all this, must remember how defective their early education has too often been, how little preparation they have received for the path of life they have to follow, and be patient with them. CHAPTER VI. Management of Children—Air, Warmth, Ablution, Clothing, Postures, Feeding, Food—Teething—Teaching to Walk—Early Education—Purity of Language in the Presence of Children—Unity of Parental Influence.