"I'll try to be a good servant, ma'am, but I cannot put on those
things and make a fool of myself. I hope you won't insist, for I am
very anxious to get a place."

Think of his dictating to me. I told him that I did not permit my
servants to impose conditions upon me (that's one of Mrs. Croesus's
sayings), that I was willing to pay him good wages and treat him well,
but that my James must wear my livery. He looked very sorry, said that
he should like the place very much,--that he was satisfied with the
wages, and was sure that he should please me, but he could not put on
those things. We were both determined, and so parted. I think we were
both sorry; for I should have to go all through the calf-business
again, and he lost a good place.

However, Caroline dear, I have my livery and my footman, and am as
good as anybody. It's very splendid when I go to Stewart's to have the
red plush and the purple, and the white calves springing down to open
the door, and to see people look, and say, "I wonder who that is?" And
everybody bows so nicely, and the clerks are so polite, and Mrs. Gnu
is melting with envy on the other side, and Mrs. Croesus goes about
saying, "Dear little woman, that Mrs. Potiphar, but so weak! Pity,
pity!" And Mrs. Settum Downe says, "Is that the Potiphar livery? Ah,
yes, Mr. Potiphar's grandfather used to shoe my grandfather's
horses!"--(as if to be useful in the world, were a disgrace,--as
Mr. P. says) and young Downe, and Boosey, and Timon Croesus come up
and stand about so gentlemanly, and say, "Well Mrs. Potiphar, are we
to have no more charming parties this season?"--and Boosey says, in
his droll way, "Let's keep the ball a-rolling!" That young man is
always ready with a witticism. Then I step out and James throws open
the door, and the young men raise their hats, and the new crowd says,