a firm of proctors in Doctors' Commons. To this, Mrs. Goldstraw
thankfully assented. Doctors' Commons not being far off, Mr. Wilding
suggested the feasibility of Mrs. Goldstraw's looking in again, say in
three hours' time. Mrs. Goldstraw readily undertook to do so. In fine,
the result of Mr. Wilding's inquiries being eminently satisfactory, Mrs.
Goldstraw was that afternoon engaged (on her own perfectly fair terms) to
come to-morrow and set up her rest as housekeeper in Cripple Corner.



THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS


On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants,
and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as
waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish
to give her. The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining-
room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual
preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to
take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

"About the meals, sir?" said Mrs. Goldstraw. "Have I a large, or a
small, number to provide for?"

"If I can carry out a certain old-fashioned plan of mine," replied Mr.
Wilding, "you will have a large number to provide for. I am a lonely
single man, Mrs. Goldstraw; and I hope to live with all the persons in my
employment as if they were members of my family. Until that time comes,