much as you seem to think. All rules have exceptions. I've no
doubt that the cook will take exception to most of them."

"That's what I'm afraid of, and as she's so old I kind of feel as if
I ought to respect her feelings a little more than we would Norah's,
for instance. I can just tell you I shall make Norah stand around."

"I think it would be a good plan if you did," said Thaddeus. "I'm
afraid Norah will die if you don't. She works too hard to be a real
servant--real servants stand around so much, you know."

"Don't be flippant, Thaddeus. This is a very serious matter. Norah
is a good girl, as you say. She works so much and so quickly that
she really makes me tired, and I'm constantly oppressed with the
thought that she may get through with whatever she is doing before I
can think of something else to occupy her time. But with her we
need have none of the feeling that we have with Jane and Ellen. She
is young, and susceptible to new impressions. She can fall in with
new rules, while the other two might chafe under them. Now, I say
we wait until we find out if we cannot let well enough alone, and
not raise discord in our home."

"There never was an Eden without its serpent," sighed Thaddeus. "I
don't exactly like the idea of fitting our rules to their
idiosyncrasies."

"It isn't that, dear. I don't want that, either; but neither do we
wish to unnecessarily hamper them in their work by demanding that
they shall do it our way."