''179^' letter from Isabella to Albert, 13.5 



mistrefs leaves the whole businefs of the kitchen 



♦to an ordinary servant.^ Here, it is quite otherwise. 

 In every family of moderate rank, the mistrefs is 

 herself ofien iu the kitchen to see that things are quite 

 right. Mr:, Drury is more than usually attentive to this 

 department. Whenever ilie remarks that a particular 

 kind of seasoning, or mode of drefsing a difh, is reliih- 

 ed by her hulband, Hie sees it the next time done 

 under her ow^n eye; remarking, with the nicest distinc- 

 tion, all particulars, and taking care that the servant 



■ihall distinguilh them as well as herself. Hence it 



'happens that the victuals are, at this table, always 

 drefsed iu the nicest manner that can be conceived ; 

 and there is not a single article of provisions ever 

 brought into the family, that is not made to turn out 

 to the greatest account. 



But it is not in the article of the table, alone, that 

 Mrs D. discovers her attachment to her hus- 



■band. 5he is naturally attentive to her family, and 

 economical of every thing ; but particularly of time : 



-flie is never one moment unemployed, nor will suffer 

 one of her children to be so ; but as Mr D. is 

 of a studious disposition, and takes no pleasure iu 

 relaxation, without the company of some person in 

 whose conversation he is interested ; and, as he takes 

 great pleasure in walking, if Ihe accompanies him, 

 fhe takes care that he fhall never perceive that flie i« 

 in the least embarrafsed about leaving her employ- 

 ment when he seemy inclined to walk. I have seen 

 her, when busied about a thing in which Ihe was ve- 

 ry much interested, throw it aside with the greatest 

 chearfulnefi whenever he appeared ; so that you 



'Would think flie had just been waiting on purposi; 



