She Knew HoW.

Otago Witness, Issue 1932, 30 November 1888, Page 37

She Knew HoW.

One who is not accustomed to entertain* ing, and not qnick at observing the conduct n of those who have learned the ways pf;; society, is sometimes not a little embarrassed to know how t>o proceed when a pew and difficult situation presents ifcseljf. A very excellent lady, who had decljnes L many invitations because she was so shy aa : to be ill at ease in society, and had never in- - vited company to her house because she was too shy to entertain even a group of jtier - friends, moved into a large new house. She felt it to be her duty to ask some of her old friends and new neighbours to tea, and after postponing the dreaded occasion again and again, at last plucked up resolution enough to send out theinyitajtionS; The evening came, and the company, too,, and all went well until the hour approached for supper. The hostess had. forgotten to give directions to .Her. servant about this"-, matter, and the more she thought about ifc the more anxious she became. Wtolt waf

the correct way to announce supper to her lAtlast she excused herself, and went out to- the kitchen. , She would consult Mary. Mary had lived in town, and must frequently have. had. the duty of informing a company that supper was served. •",I— l— that is, Mary, I— well, you say you have lived .in town all your life, and I haven't, so perhaps you know more than I do about how to announce supper to the compscny^ How shall I doit?" ■Jfp.ooh, -.hat's easy enough!" said the girl, confidently. • " I'll have them oat here in -less than no time," and before the mistress could offer an objection, Mary seized a handbell, strode out into the hall, and cried while she rang' the bell in true boaming-house style: "■ Supper 1 sup/MJH supper!