Still, with the rest of the family, Mrs. Salisbury was relieved when
Lizzie, shortly after this, decided of her own accord to accept a
better-paid position. "Unless, Mama says, you'd care to raise me to
seven a week," said Lizzie, in parting.

"No, no, I cannot pay that," Mrs. Salisbury said firmly and Lizzie
accordingly left.

Her place was taken by a middle-aged French woman, and whipped cream
and the subtle flavor of sherry began to appear in the Salisbury
bills of fare. Germaine had no idea whatever of time, and Sandy
perforce must set the table whenever there was a company dinner
afoot, and lend a hand with the last preparations as well. The
kitchen was never really in order in these days, but Germaine cooked
deliciously, and Mrs. Salisbury gave eight dinners and a club
luncheon during the month of her reign. Then the French woman grew
more and more irregular as to hours, and more utterly unreliable as
to meals; sometimes the family fared delightfully, sometimes there
was almost nothing for dinner. Germaine seemed to fade from sight,
not entirely of her own volition, not really discharged; simply she
was gone. A Norwegian girl came next, a good-natured, blundering
creature whose English was just enough to utterly confuse herself
and everyone else. Freda's mistakes were not half so funny in the
making as Alexandra made them in anecdotes afterward; and Freda was
given to weird chanting, accompanying herself with a banjo,
throughout the evenings. Finally a blonde giant known as "Freda's
cousin" came to see her, and Kane Salisbury, followed by his elated
and excited boys, had to eject Freda's cousin early in the evening,
while Freda wept and chattered to the ladies of the house. After