I tried the experiment of banishing Miss A---- from the kitchen during cooking hours, but a few bars played on the piano were quite enough to distract my cook from his work.

My only quiet time was the afternoon, when about four o'clock, my amateur servants all went out for a ride, and left me in peace for a couple of hours.

I had enough to do during that short time to tidy up; to collect the scattered books and music, and prepare the tea-supper, for which they came back in tearing spirits, and frantically hungry, between seven and eight o'clock.

After this meal had been cleared away, and Mr.U---- and I had washed up (the others declaring they were too tired to stir), we all used to adjourn to the verandah.

It happened to be an exceptionally _still_ week, no dry, hot nor'-westers, nor cold, wet sou'-westers, and it was perfectly delicious to sit out in the verandah and rest, after the labours of the day, in our cane easy-chairs.