Of course, Harry does make such a fuss of things.  You might think, to hear him talk, that the getting up of coal, lighting fires, chopping wood and cleaning flues was the entire work of a household, instead of being mere incidents in the daily routine.  If he had to tackle my duties—­but men never seem to understand how much there is to do in a house.

I will tell you about the conference when I write again.

Yours always, DODO.

Puddleford.

DEAR MOIRA,—­The conference was a most interesting affair; the one going on in Paris could never be half so thrilling.  There was a goodly attendance of servants, and they had their own spokeswoman.  We spoke for ourselves—­those of us who were not too dazed at the sight of so many “treasures” almost within our grasp.

What the servants wanted was not unreasonable.  They chiefly demanded a certain time to themselves during the day, with fixed hours for meals, evening free, etc.

Then Mrs. Boydon-Spoute got up—­you know how that woman loves to hear herself talk—­and said that such demands were outrageous. (It’s easy for her to raise objections.  She has somehow paralysed her two servants into staying with her for over ten years.) She pointed out that under such conditions the servant would have more freedom than the mistress; and to allow the working classes to thus get the upper hand was nothing short of encouraging Bolshevism in the home.  Dreadful thing to say, wasn’t it?

The servants got rather restive at that.  When I thought of the two days’ washing-up waiting for me at home I retorted with spirit that servants had as much right to freedom as we, and it was our duty to guard their interests—­and lots of inspired things like that, glaring at Mrs. Boydon-Spoute the while.

I spoke so well that a cook-general offered herself to me as soon as the conference was over.  She comes in on Monday.

Yours in transports, DODO.

Puddleford.

DEAR MOIRA,—­Emma, the new maid, has arrived.  Harry is as relieved as I am and was quite cheerful while I was dressing the gash he had inflicted on his hand while chopping wood.  Isn’t it strange that men can never give the slightest assistance in the house without getting themselves hurt in some way?

Emma promises to be a treasure.  If mistresses would only show a little humanity there never would be any servant trouble at all.  It is people like Mrs. Boydon-Spoute who are responsible for it.

Yours, purring content, DODO.

Puddleford.

DEAR MOIRA,—­I am sorry not to have written for such a long time.  I have been so extremely busy.

You see, when Emma has had her two hours free daily, her hour-and-a-half off for dinner, with half-an-hour for other meals, every evening out as well as two afternoons a week, you would be surprised what little leisure is left to her for the housework.