HOUSEKEEPING. 83 



allusions to a person who could not spell a word of 

 four syllables, and who was suspected of being a tool in 

 the hands of old servants. Such a person was totally- 

 incapacitated from carrying a key-basket. Lalya dis- 

 solved in tears and withdrew her claim, and Nye 

 having astutely squashed the ineligible aspirant, pro- 

 ceeded to inform Tribby and Wildie that the house- 

 keeping, with all its cares, responsibilities, and honours, 

 was to be divided between them. 



" How divided ? " asked Wildie, with a baseless hope 

 surging in her breast. She knew that whenever joint 

 performance was expected from Tribby and herself, all 

 the disagreeables got shoved on to poor Tribulation's 

 smaller though older shoulders. 



A wistful smile flitted across Tribby's face, and she 

 glanced at her dear tormentor as though she would 

 say, " I would help you if I could." 



Nye replied to Wildie's question. She said, " It 

 will be an equal division. Tribby will take charge 

 one week, you next — enti7'e charge, mind — and I will 

 take the third week. Of course it will happen that 

 when we have visitors, or anything of that sopt, I may 

 be required for other things, and when that is the case 

 one of you will take my turn." 



The dismay on Wildie's face provoked a laugh from 

 our mother — a laugh which she qualified by saying, 

 " You will aye have me to come to." Then Nye added, 

 "I will help you, of course, Wildie, if you get into 

 difficulties ; but really, you know, it is more than time 

 that you gave your thoughts to something besides books 



