Mrs.Hopkins, after that first letter, the contents of which she had communicated to Reginald Morton, had received various despatches and been asked various questions.

Could she find a cook?
Could she find two housemaids?
And all these were only wanted for a time.

In her distress she went to Mrs.Runciman, and did get assistance.

"I suppose he thinks he's to have the cook out of my kitchen ?" Runciman had said.

Somebody, however, was found who said she could cook, and two girls who professed that they knew how to make beds.