capacity of her two eyes, one of these being what is known as
"walled." Amelia was an orphan; she had been dragged up by the
"Metropolitan Association for Befriending Young Servants," known to
its familiars as the "Mabys," such designation being formed by the
first letter of each word of the title. Every week, dozens of these
young women issued from the doors of the many branches of this
institution, who became, to their respective mistresses, a source of
endless complaint; in times of domestic stress, one or two of these
"generals" had been known to keep their situations for three months.
Amelia was a prodigy of success, a record in the annals of the
society, inasmuch as she had been at Brandenburg College for two
years and a half. She kept her situation because she was cheap;
also, because she did her best to give satisfaction, as she
appreciated the intellectual atmosphere of the place, which made her
hope that she, too, might pick up a few educational crumbs;
moreover, she was able to boast to her intimates, on the occasions
when she visited her parent home, how her two mistresses could speak
four languages, which was certainly true.

"Wasn't it all beautiful, miss?" asked Amelia, who had listened to
yesterday's entertainment halfway down the stairs leading to the
basement.

"Wonderful," replied Mavis, as she tied on a kitchen apron, a
preliminary to giving Amelia a helping hand with the breakfast.

"And the 'reverend'! He did make me laugh when he gave four prizes
to fat Miss Robson, and said she was a good all round girl."

This joke had not been intentional on Mr Smiley's part; he had been