patriotism!"

"Beyond a doubt," agreed Dyce. "Lady Ogram deserves well of her
country."

"There's just one way," remarked Mrs. Gallantry, "in which, it seems
to me, she could have deserved better. Don't be angry with me, Lady
Ogram; you know I profit by your example in saying just what I
think. Now, if, instead of a mill, you had built a training
institution for domestic service--"

"Bah!" broke in the hostess. "How you harp on that idea! Haven't you
any other?"

"One or two more, I assure you," replied Mrs. Gallantry, with the
utmost good-humour. "But I particularly want to interest you in this
one. It's better that girls should work in a mill in the country
than go to swell the population of slums; I grant you that. But how
much better still for them to work in private houses, following
their natural calling, busy with the duties of domestic life.
They're getting to hate that as much as their menfolk hate
agricultural labour; and what could be a worse symptom or a greater
danger?"

"Pray," cried Lady Ogram, in her grating voice, "how would a
servants' school have helped the village?"

"Not so quickly, perhaps, but in time. With your means and
influence, Lady Ogram, you might have started an institution which
would be the model of its kind for all England. Every female child