*A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS' 221 



there had been a dog to tease. I need not have 

 worried my head about it ; trouble is sure to come 

 if only you give it time. Unfortunately it so often 

 comes in a much more formidable shape than you 

 ever expect. If anyone had told me that it was in 

 this peaceful abode that the great crisis of my life 

 was to come upon me I should have smiled ; I 

 might even have said ' Rats !' for T often find 

 myself using your slang expressions by mistake. 



It came about in this way: something — some 

 spirit of reckless extravagance — prompted the old 

 ladies to engage a boy to clean their boots and do 

 odd jobs in the morning, and when a boy comes 

 mischief is not far behind. Why, oh why, could 

 they not have hired a nice timid girl ? Being old 

 maids, I suppose that they wanted something like 

 a man about the place. At any rate he came, and 

 his evil name was Billy. Somehow I seem to 

 notice that a touch of extra wickedness goes with 

 the name Billy. Georges are always good, and I 

 have never heard any breath of scandal touch the 

 name of Johnny. Sam is very mischievous, like 

 me, but never bad all through. If you ask me 

 about the names of girls, I have not much to say, 

 but I distrust Jane and Emily and Sarah, and am 

 inclined to be friendly with Mary and Bess and Nell. 



