I did not explain; but reminded her that the Housekeeper had two hours and a half more rest in the morning than I. "I am glad she can have it; and it would be only kind to give me my tea a little earlier, as I cannot have it." "She has to be up nights frequently." "No oftener than I, and not so late. I lock her women up after she dismisses them from her kitchen." "I shall lose a good Housekeeper if you have your breakfast before the rest. She won't stay if she is obliged to get it." "She told me she was willing I should have it." "She is unwilling now." I readily saw why she had become unwilling. She herself had made up her mind that it was not to be given me, because I delayed the kindling of her fire, and she had made the Housekeeper unwilling. "You had better keep her. It is doubtful if I could remain with that favor. It is with great difficulty that I get through the day now, with the help of a tonic that the Doctor has given me." I sent in my resignation the next morning. I told the Master that I would stay till he could find some one to take my place. As I was no longer an officer on duty, merely a temporary supply of help, I took the liberty to go back to bed, after I had called the women out, to get an additional hour or two of sleep. I found that it helped me wonderfully in getting through the day. When the Deputy came round, I reported myself. "You did not do your duty!" was his curt reply. "I am not on duty and I shall do it every morning that I stay here to oblige you. If I were the only one in the institution who does not do her duty, it would be well to single me out for reproof. Indeed I am not sure that I am not doing my duty--to myself. If the women in the officers' kitchen can work two hours and a half in the morning without a mistress, so that the Housekeeper can get her rest, why may not the women in the prisoners' kitchen do the same thing, so that their Matron may get rest?" The Deputy smiled at my reasoning. "I cannot discipline you; you are not one of the officers of the institution now. I get up nearly as early as you do." "I hope you enjoy it." "I cannot say that I exactly enjoy it; but my duty calls me, and I do it." "You are a strong, healthy man, and can bear a great deal of care. But you do not have as much as I. You have your rest through the night without it. You have your watchman in prison, and go to your bed in the house. That prison is no place for a woman to sleep in, and the care of it is no work for a woman, who works all day,--and for no one else who is obliged to be on duty through the day." "It is hardly fit work for a woman to sleep in a prison, and take care of it nights." "Aside from its fitness I cannot do it for want of strength. I hope you will find some one to take my place very soon. I saw two or three advertisements in last night's paper for such a place."