HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 109 



the worst — all looking down their noses as Mary 

 Ann — she was not the least taken down — 

 strutted into the hall, and was taken possession 

 of by the neat lady's maid, dressed in black. 

 She soon picked up the duties of the situation, 

 and developed into a most devoted servant, only 

 leaving to be married after twelve years' 

 service. I saw her recently, and she said she 

 had three daughters in Government offices, 

 getting 30s. per week. No wonder Mary Ann's 

 are now scarce, but we have been most fortunate 

 in this respect. Quite the reverse of the 

 experience of a lady, who was heard to say to 

 her maid, " You are the essence of imperti- 

 nence." Upon which the maid repHed, " And 

 you are the essence of lemon." There is much 

 to be said as to the way domestics are treated. 

 Good masters make good servants. 



JOURNEY WITH A BULL-DOG. 



It has been said on excellent authority that 

 the plans of men and mice are alike doomed to 

 failure, and so it happened to me. It was 

 decided that I should stay at Colchester with my 

 sister, and have a few days' hunting with the 

 Essex and Suffolk ; but a frost set in the night 

 of my arrival and continued six weeks. Any- 

 thing equal to the cold of the Colonel's quarters, 

 in the Cavalry Barracks, where we were located, 

 I never experienced. We dined in ulsters, hats 

 and woollen shawls over our heads; sponges 

 and water jugs were frozen in the bedrooms, 



