'An _oyster_-omelet,' I suggested, 'surely comes after the birds ?' I should be sorry to say that her ladyship lost her temper--I will only mention that I kept mine.

Let me repeat what she said, and leave you, Father, to draw your own conclusions.

She said, 'Which of us is mistress in this house, Miss Notman?
I order the oyster-omelet to come in with the cheese.' There was not only irritability, there was contempt--oh, yes! contempt in her tone.

Out of respect for myself, I made no reply.

As a Christian, I can forgive; as a wounded gentlewoman, I may not find it so easy to forget." Miss Notman laid herself back in her easy chair--she looked as if she had suffered martyrdom, and only regretted having been obliged to mention it.