leaving at the end of the first fortnight, but we won her heart by giving her young man free access to the kitchen from 9 o’clock to 10.30 every evening.  Even then, however, she found the place too dull.  Number eight stayed two months; she left avowedly because she did not care to stop too long in one place.  The ninth remained only a fortnight.  She left because we objected to her staying out after eleven o’clock at night, although we gave her three nights out a week after half-past eight.

When there are children in a middle-class family, a nurse-girl is generally, but by, no means always, kept.  Hers is the lowest of all the branches of service, and is only taken by a young girl just going out into the world.  Trained nurses, such as are common at home, are in great demand, and almost unobtainable.  They can earn a pound a week easily, and at such wages a man whose income only runs into three figures is forced to put up with a nurse-girl.  She undertakes no responsibility, her duties being confined to carrying the baby and screaming at the other children if they attempt to do themselves any bodily harm.  If you wish to understand what the average nurse-girl is like, you have but to walk through any of the public gardens; you will see babies without number left in the blazing sun, some hanging half-way out of their perambulators, others sucking large, painted ‘lollies’ or green apples.  The elder children, if they are unruly, are slapped and sent off to play by themselves, while the nurse-girls hold a confab on a neighbouring bench.  Not that these girls are necessarily bad, but they lack the supervision and training of a head-nurse; they have been taught to look upon nursing as derogatory, and never stay long enough as nurses to get an experience in handling children.  A few months of this, the lowest stage of servant-galdom, and then they pass up into the maid-of-all-work class.  Thus it is that many mothers prefer undertaking the duties of nurse themselves, and devote themselves to their children often at the expense of their husbands, and certainly of all social relations.

Colonial servants are much too fond of change for change’s sake ever to stay long in one situation.  A month’s character is a sure guarantee for another place, and only a week’s notice is required on either side before leaving.  Hence servants are engaged and paid by the week; they do not expect any presents or perquisites, and it is not the custom to make them any allowance for beer.  On the other hand, they will not stand being allowanced for tea, sugar, butter, or anything of the kind, and as a rule they fare in exactly the same style as their masters.  Every other Sunday afternoon and evening, one evening every week, and occasional public holidays, are the customary outings, though we found it expedient to allow a good many more.