92 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



that week, and many a week ensuing; for although 

 Nye superintended well, Wildie did not execute in the 

 same manner, and the scoldings which followed made 

 her worse. 



How shall I tell of stale bread set aside for puddings 

 surreptitiously handed through the store-room window 

 to Chance, a pony, with whom Wildie was on the most 

 intimate terms ? How shall I tell of lamps unlighted, 

 because she had forgotten to order a fresh supply of 

 oil? How shall I tell of sugar allowed to become 

 syrup, of salt unaccountably flavoured with washing- 

 soda, of toast tasting of soap ? Alas ! those things are 

 for ever chronicled in the family records, and brought 

 forward whenever Wildie — now anything but the high- 

 spirited lassie who earned for herself that name — pre- 

 sumes to speak on any branch of housekeeping. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Wildie's utter incapacity for the duties imposed upon 

 her was clearly shown on one occasion when she had 

 retired to a certain pantry to wash the cups, &c. 

 Minute after minute slipped by, and from that retreat 

 she did not issue, nor (most remarkable fact of any) 

 was there heard the usual clatter of dishes in that 

 vicinity. 



Nye, having taken upon herself to overlook the 

 greater part of Wildie's performances, was usually " on 

 the prowl," and, greatly wondering what had become 

 of her, softly opened the pantry door. Wildie was 



