"The Cook General."

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13916, 29 May 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

"The Cook General."

By "Rita."

Our "treasure" was about to leave in the interests of matrimony. Two years of intelligent service had rendered a household. asset not easy to replace. She promised to do her best to find another treasure for me when registry offices had proved more than usually inefficient.

This led to tho application of Miss Olivia Judkins, who came to interview me, with a view to, my suitability as a mistress.

I received her in my study. An inflexible leaking young woman in a talior-niade bicycling costume and a motor-cap. "Good evening. You are Mary's friend, I suppose ? She has spoken about you. Possibly she has alio told you about the —situation?" ' " She has," answered' thte visitor. " You only keep.,one?" "I give plenty of assistance. A boy cleans knives and boots, and brings up coals;, and a woman conies in twice a week to help. " All the washing is given out. And wo are only two in family." "I have no objection to being alone. In fact, I rather like it. Disagreements with one's fellow servants make things uncomfortable." - "They do," I agreed heartily. "For everyone in the house," I added. "Oh!" she said carelessly. "I wasn't thinking of that." INTER.ItOGAT.TVT3 MOOD. Her eyes wandered from me to the room. "A great many hooks' to dust?" ' , "T happen to be a writer," I murmured apologetically. "I'm fond of reading," she observed. . "I've had a good education. Being literary 'I suppose your faddish?" . ■ . .

" No—-I think not," I said, meekly. "We live very simply, nnd I am quite a punctual person."'•'That's a comfort. I'm 'a good cook, and things. spoil hy keeping. I've an eight years' character, you know. Did most everything for Mrs Atkins," she continued. " House-kept nnd all. She never kijew .ivl'"' she was going to have to eat. All left to me."

"Oh!" I said, alarmed [ for an indefinite digestion. " Rut I like to give my orders mvself.'.'.... "I should not object ■t r < that. /No late dinners I hope? I do dislike meping. ui),'my kitchen. !.<uf . an: cyeiiingi" "'.""''■. "We have supper at eight o'clock. A. light'■meal. Two courses alud a little fruit. Rut my daughter of^ ten sees to that. :\ She is a great hand at fancy dishes. She has attended cookery-classes."

"I know them classes! Spoiling young ladies, and cocking them ur> •with the idea that they know how to make soups and jellies better nor a professional. I couldn't have no. interference of that sort!" J " I thought it might be a help sometimes," I said, meekly. "Oh. on hit evenings out ,1 shouldn't obicct." SOME DEMANDS. "How often would you like to go out 0 " I inquired. "Every Sunday from four o'clock to ten.' And one evening in the week five to ten. Of course, if I wanted to go to a theatre now and then, that would be extra. I'm fond of plays."

"But supposing I had friends coining, or wanted to go out myself?" "That would be a matter of arrangement, of course. T'm not disobliging. How many rooms are there in this house?" I mentioned them. "Looks smaller?" she observed. "But I think I could do it. "N on said you gave help. Oh. there is a wardrobe in my bedroom?" "There is. Jt lms not a glass ju it. Do vou mind?" "No," she said affably. "I could always look in at your room or your ■daughters. A bath, I suppose?

"Oh, yes. One in your own room. "I'prefer the bathroom. It's, such a trouble carrying cans of hot water upstairs." . . "They are very easy si airs. And it would bo only one flight." " Well that might be arrauged. Much conniaiiy .kept?" "No. I live very ouietly. I have my WOHS, and that makes up a great deal of time." "T suppose so. Oueer id must w. making up stories out <\f vour own head. How do you do it?" "Oh. just take a sheet of paper and a pen, and write," I said casually. "Often thought I'd like to write stories. 1 Know a lot of stuff that would work up well for magazines. IF you ever want a plot just you come, to me. My stn<-s! I. could tell you a thing or two!" ' "That sounds as if you were inclined t<, —to come here?" (I did not venture to say "take the place."). "Yes —I think it would suit me, she answered reflectively. "1 suppose 1 can arrange the work my own way. It would suit me best. Of course I've no wish to alter meal-times or ' at home ' davs. or anything of that sort. But "with regard to rooms now "• "Well, I should like them done on the davs I have been accustomed to. Each one is thoroughly turned out, once a week except this study. That 1 cannot have interfered with, save for ordinary sweeping, and dusting, •unless I am not engaged on any work." 1 11 j "Oh. I quite -understand that. Shouldn't like it myself. Got a bicvclc house?" . . „,, ■"Yes. Have vou a mcyelo:' " Naturallv. I'm rather keen on eveling." '■ ' ■'-.,,- ""You doii't —g'ill' —1 suppose.-' "No " she said quite Kori<)U.«!y. "Don't hold with rough games tor women. Fairly good at -tennis. V«ed to'nlav a set now and then with Air* Atkins's young ladies. They re all marker! now." FUTCE AND'INDEPENDENT. "Oh--that reminds ine—'iMvo you I mean, are you ciaged?"

"No — thank "you. No yonnp mon Tot tv>*». Xuoav t<->o much them. Bf^if I'm getting on a bit" I Lad not asked licr ago for fear

of giving offence, but a- perceptible hint of dental assistance and thinning hair uavo rise fa, -the diplomatic in-quiry-"Not thirty-aro you?" ' bio looked pleased. "Add five to it. rhafcj, why I want a uipt place. r m uot o^S

"Aor J," I agreed. "Think I should like to tamo here," she went on thoughtfully. "You seem the right sort of miste'ess for me i. mean I can't abear interference. I know my work, • and I-do it If lot t° "*' iiko 1 . 1i,y ™- TS y° u '™ got to say so." J , "Perhaps you would like to seo tho house?" I suggested. '' Oh Mary took me all over it before I called on you." (I observed that the formula of "applied for tho situation ' was distinctly omitted.) its just enough for ono to manage," she went on "As to wages, I knew what Mary had. But I'm more experienced and older. I should want twenty-five pounds a rear."

•Very well," I agreed, weak and weary after long battles with registry office "incapables" "But do you —-really think tho place will suit you?"

" Well," thoughtfully, "I'll give it a. trial."

"By the way," I hazarded, "about your name?" "Olivia. Jndkins." ""Would you mind if I. — didn't call yon —Olivia?"

"Why shouldn't you?" sho demanded sharply. "Tt seems such a . .well . : . such an odd name for a servant. Have you no other?"

, Her mouth snapped. " No; Mother cave it after the Vicar of Wnk-fielH'n daughter. -Saw it at a theatre in Liverpool. I was born nest day." "I had better call you Judkins," I said. Unless you wouldn't mind 'Mary.' I've got used to that,, you see." ...'...-.

"No. doubt," she snapped. ."But I haven't. If I can't be called my own name, I won't bo beholden to anvone else's." I sighed. "Then it must be Judkins —if you're coming?"

"Oh! I'm coming,"-she said, adjusting her cap and veil beforo -tho glass on the chimney-piece. "I've always wanted to live with an author. I'm told they know nothing about housekeeping or domestic matters, ami want a. capable person to look after them. I think we'll just suit duo another." .

'"And after twlve months' prvrrictico I actually found she was ru'lit, and I could .afford to laugh at " beiwt engaged " by a servant, instead of engaging one.—Home paper,