As for Mrs. Armitage and her daughters, each one of whom bore herself towards the domestics with an air of imperiousness and dictation, they never reflected before requiring a service whether such a service would not be felt as burdensome in the extreme, and therefore, whether it might not be dispensed with at the time.  Without regard to what might be going on in the kitchen, the parlor or chamber, bells were rung, and servants required to leave their half finished meals, or to break away in the midst of important duties that had to be done by a certain time, to attend to some trifling matter which, in fact, should never have been assigned to a domestic at all.  Under this system, it was no wonder that a constant succession of complaints against servants should be made by the Armitages.  How could it be otherwise?  Flesh and blood could not patiently bear the trials to which these people were subjected.  Nor was it any wonder, that frequent changes took place, or that they were only able to retain the most inferior class of servants, and then only for short periods.

There are few, perhaps, who cannot refer, among their acquaintances, to a family like the Armitages.  They may ordinarily be known by their constant complaints about servants, and their dictatorial way of speaking whenever they happen to call upon them for the performance of any duty.

In pleasing contrast to them were the Milnors.

Let us go with Helen in her visit to Fanny.  When the day came which she had promised to spend with her young friend, Helen, after getting out of patience with the chambermaid for her tardy attendance upon her, and indulging her daily murmurs against servants, at last emerged into the street, and took her way towards the dwelling of Mr. Milnor.  It was a bright day, and her spirits soon rose superior to the little annoyances that had fretted her for the past hour.  When she met Fanny she was in the best possible humor; and so seemed the tidy domestic who had admitted her, for she looked very cheerful, and smiled as she opened the door.

“How different from our grumbling, slovenly set!” Helen could not help remarking to herself, as she passed in.  Fanny welcomed her with genuine cordiality, and the two young ladies were soon engaged in pleasant conversation.  After exhausting various themes. they turned to music, and played, and sang together for half an hour.

“I believe I have some new prints that you have never seen,” said Fanny on their leaving the piano, and she looked around for the portfolio of engravings, but could not find it.

“Oh! now I remember—­it is up stairs.  Excuse me for a minute and I will run and get it.”  As Fanny said this, she glided from the room.  In a few minutes she returned with the book of prints.

“Pardon me, Fanny—­but why didn’t you call a servant to get the port-folio for you?  You have them in the house to wait upon you.”

“Oh, as to that,” returned Fanny, “I always prefer to wait upon myself when I can, and so remain independent.  And besides, the girls are all busy ironing, and I would not call them off from their work for any thing that I could do myself.  Ironing day is a pretty hard day for all of them, for our family is large, and mother always likes her work done well.”