THE VISIT OF THE WASHERMAN. 
fawning. Call the boy, and take in your clothes, and’^ 
— speaking to the “ fawn you just step out, and 
sit down behind the back corner of the bungalow, 
until I call you to lift and carrj^ away the dirty 
clothes.” Upon hearing this order, the “fawn” hung 
her head, and reluctantly did as she was bidden. 
But master laughed, and said, “ Why, old girl, what- 
ever are you jealous about ? The girl caught my at- 
tention, merely as being a stranger. Do you think T 
could ever cast a sheep’s eye upon a child of a 
creature like that ? The girl has the pro^inise of 
eventually becoming a handsome woman, buj^ you 
need never be jealous of her, for it is impo^ible 
either she, or any one else, can ever excel or even 
attain the perfection of beauty and symmetry of form, 
which all who have any correct opinion of female 
beauty declare that you possess.” Upon hearing this 
the old lady adjusted her cloth under her chin, and 
took a chew of betel, in performing which act it 
became quite apparent that her mouth was innocent 
of teeth ; but master said, “ Why do you eat that 
nasty stuff? It will spoil all your fine teeth.” But 
the lady said never a word, or, when she did, took 
great care in keeping her lips as compressed as pos- 
sible. She now calls her young aud beautiful com- 
panion to come forward, boldly, and “ not be afraid 
of master ; no need for that : master is a gentleman 
of great discrimination, and excellent taste, in re- 
gard to the personal looks and general accomplish- 
ments of the female sex.” But master declared he 
could not look at the trifling creatures : he would just 
count out the dirty clothes to her, which was all 
she was good for, and, in the time he was doing this, 
would the old lady just step into the kitchen, and 
get some hot coffee. “The dear young gentleman,” 
she exclaims, “how kind, for I am so fond of coffee.” 
So away she goes, and spent so much time in drink=- 
ing coffee, and gossipping with the servants, that her 
jmung charge had eventually to take charge of her, 
and, after a great deal of difficulty, get her out of 
the kitchen. Master now gave the old lady a cheroot, 
at which she was so pleased, that nothing would 
serve her, except to carry the dirty clothes herself. 
“Master so kind, no master like ours; an honour to 
carry his clothes, an honour of which you are alto- 
gether unworthy, ” as she snatched the bundle out 
of the hands of the fawn, took hold of her by 
the hand, and thus the two departed, the elder carry-, 
ing the burden, and leading the younger. “ Boy,” 
shouts out the master, “ be quick and bring in a cup 
of coffee, and that heel of the last of the bread : I 
must be off to work.” But the boy informs master^ 
