“I should think so.  But, why, in the name of goodness did you take another of these green islanders into your house?”

“It’s easy enough to ask questions, Mr. Smith,” said I, a little fretfully; “but—­” I checked myself.  We looked at each other, smiled, and—­said no more on the subject.

“Your name is Anna, I believe?” said I, as I stepped to the kitchen-door, a couple of hours afterwards.

“Thot’s me name,” replied the new domestic.

“I will send home a loin of veal and some green peas,” said I.  “They are for dinner, which must be ready at two o’clock.  You know how to roast a piece of veal, I presume?”

“Lave me for thot same, honey!”

“And the green peas?”

“All right, mum.  I’ve lived in quality houses since I was so high.  I can cook ony thing.”

“Very well, Anna.  We will see.  I have to go out this morning; and you must do the best you can.  Don’t fail to have dinner ready by two o’clock.  Mr. Smith is a punctual man.”

Anna was profuse in her promises.

“If,” said I, recollecting myself, as I was about opening the street door, and returning along the passage,—­“If any thing is sent home for me, be sure to take it up stairs and lay it carefully on my bed.”

“Yes, mum.”

“Now don’t forget this, Anna.”

“Och! niver fear a hate, mum,” was the girl’s answer.  “I’ll not forget a word iv y’r insthructions.”

I turned away and left the house.  My principal errand was a visit to the milliner’s, where I wished to see a bonnet I had ordered, before it was sent home.  It was this bonnet I referred to when I desired Anna to place carefully on the bed in my chamber, any thing that might come home.

On my way to the milliner’s, I stopped at the grocer’s where we were in the habit of dealing, and made selections of various things that were needed.

The bonnet proved just to my taste.  It was a delicate white spring bonnet, with a neat trimming, and pleased my fancy wonderfully.

“The very thing,” said I, the moment my eyes rested upon it.

“Do you want a box?” asked the milliner, after I had decided to take the bonnet.

“I have one,” was my answer.

“O, very well.  I will send the bonnet home in a box, and you can take it out.”

“That will do.”

“Shall I send it home this morning?”

“If you please.”

“Very well.  I’ll see that it is done.”

After this I made a number of calls, which occupied me until after one o’clock, when I turned my face homeward.  On arriving, I was admitted by my new girl, and, as the thought of my beautiful bonnet now returned to my mind, my first words were: 

“Has any thing been sent home for me, Anna?”

“Och! yis indade, mum,” was her answer,—­“lots o’ things.”

“Lots of things!” said I, with manifest surprise; for I only remembered at the moment my direction to the milliner to send home my bonnet.