LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6161, 14 February 1888, Page 1

LITERATURE.

LEFT IN CHARGE. (Truth.) Mrs Grosvenor Crescent was a philanthropic lady, a member of a Society for Befriending Young Servants, and took a great personal interest in various other benevolent and charitable institutions. She lived in a fashionable but dingy Btreet backing onto a mews, and, owing to aristocratic acquaintances, formed among fellow-workers iv the philanthropic field, she moved in good society. She was a shrewd, clever, energetic woman of business, and her services upon a Committee of Managementwereinvaluable. This beingso, we may disregard the cynical suggestion of her enemies that while ostensibly labouring for others she really benefited herself. It does not do to inquire closely into motives, end it is quite possible that poor Mrs Grosvenor Crescent could not aSord the luxury of being entirely disinterested and singleminded. The wife of a poorly-paid Government clerk, with a numerous family, must pass many sleepless nights in anxious scheming if she aspireß to live in what is called society. Mrs Grosvenor Crescent knew this to her cost, and it is due to her to Eay that she was influenced at least as much by an honest desire for the welfare of her daughters as by personal ambition. However, we are not concerned with this good lady's secret worries and vexations, especially as she kept them carefully locked up in her matronly bosom, and asked no eympathy from anyone. She preferred to maintain an appearance Df smiling prosperity, and consequently, though her husband was in a chronic state of severe impecuniosity, she always migrated with her family into the country at the end of each London season like other people. She profited by these occasions to practise a little stroke of domestic economy by getting rid of two of the servants, thereby saving board-wages. Her maid, of course, accompanied her, for the sake of appearances, but the cook and the parlour -maid were peremptorily ordered home for six weeks' change of air, and Mrs Grosvenor Crescent always regretted that the fourth servant could not also be dispensed with. Thi3, however, was impossible, because it was, of course, necessary to leave someone in charge of the house in town. This year, Mrs Grosvenor Crescent confided this important trust to a young servant named Ellen. She really had no choice in the matter, because the girl had no home to go to; otherwise, ehe would have preferred to leave some one more experienced instead of her, Ellen being only eighteen, and not particularly bright for her age. Mrs Grosvenor Crescent hesitated for a long time, not whether she was morally justified in leaving a young, inexperienced girl alone in a gloomy London house for several weeks exposed to temptation which the weariness of solitude would only render more alluring, but whether Ellen would take proper care of the house and furniture. Could she be trusted to keep the windows locked and v the doors bolted; to warn off area sneaks; a nd, above all, to remain in the house like j^ faithful sentinel, ever vigilant and ai '^rt? This was the anxious problem wh it'll vexed Mrs Grosvernor Crescent's soul* *■ ne ther aspect — the idea of danger to tt^ fP 3^ an^ °^ mora l responsibility to_ senous f 'iCli^' Il<^t'aU events, having, after mature deliberation, arrived at the concluBion thatN^ 1 * 16 house would be safe under the girl's tf'uarge, she felt no qualms of conscience o.n the subject of the girl herself. , Excellent housekeepers, who may be disposed to consider; Mrs Grosvenor Crescent's conduct inexcut^a\We must bear in mind that she only iVlowed the example of many of her frienite and neighbours. It is not at all an uiioommon custom for a solitary domestic— often quite young— to be left in charge of a-London house when the family is away &b the seaside or elsewhere. Mrß Grosvetfor Crescent departed then for her autumn holiday with her mind full of cares as u*ufll, but untroubled by any misgivings abcui? Ellen. She had given the girl a good lecHgi'e, and fully believed that she was trustworthy. It never entered her head to speculate whether she would be dull, or nervous, or how she would manage to get through the day without a boul to Bpeak to. The latter reflection, perhaps, -would have been superfluous, as Mrs Grosvenor Crescent had taken care to leave her enough work to do to occupy every single moment of her time. The servant Ellen was a heavy, stolid sort of girl, who had been educated in a workhouse, and cherished no roseate views of life. But she had a dim perception of the golden truth that the highest happiness is attainable by conscientious performance of duty. This conclusion wa3 the practical result of herhardexperience,andnotthe outcome of philosophical reflection. She had realised that if she did her work thoroughly ehe derived a certain comforting inward satisfaction therefrom, in addition to escaping scoldings and punishment. Therefore, in point of industry and obedience, Bhe was an excellent servant, but in other respects she was an uninteresting and commonplace lass enough, with large hands and feet, plain features, and a thick, equat figure. "When her mistress announced that she -was to be left in charge of the house, she was neither depressed nor elated by the prospect, but acquiesced in it as a matter of course. It was not until the evening of the day on which the family departed- that Ellen began to experience a vague feeling of discomfort and uneasiness. As she went over the house to close it up for the night, the gathering darkness, the unaccustomed silence, the resounding echo of her heavy footsteps on the uncarpeted floors, the strange shadows thrown by the street-lamps into the deserted rooms, and, above all, the sudden sense of loneliness, startled and dismayed her. Her mistress had inquired of her, as a matter of form, whe&er she was nervous, and the girl had answered in the negative, not the least understanding tho real meaning of the word. But Bhe crept upstairs to her room that night on tiptoe, instinctively holding her breath, and starting with alarm at the creaking of the stairs and the rustling of her gown against the banisters. For the first time in her life, ehe realised the misery of a Bleepless night caused by sheer nervousness and fright. daylight arrived and she set about her work, Ellen was inclined to scoff at her fears, which she now regarded as foolish and groundless. Bat sixteen hours of Ecrubbing and cleaning did not restore her shaken nerves, and when darkness came her uneasiness revived. Naturally, after some days, she grew more accustomed to her lonely vigil ; and by degrees she contrived to obtain a few moments of rest and sleep. But her senses were ever keenly on the alert, and hardly a night passed without its alarming incident, due to some sudden and unexplained sound in the deserted house. She was perpetually haunted by the dread of thieves anc burglars, and this so preyed upon her mine that her health soon became seriouslj affected. Unfortunately, the rules and regulation: laid down by her mistress for her guidance only made matters worse. It is to be hopec that Mrs Grosvenor Crescent, in ordering the work she wished done during hei absence, neither anticipated nor desirec that the whole of it would be accomplished If so, she overlooked the fact that stolic conscientiousness was a characteristic o: the girl Ellen, who religiously performed day by day, the task-allotted io her. Har< work, as we;alliaow; : i3',tli.eimi3t,efSlcaeiou!

medicine < for ennui ; but work unrelieved by any kind of relaxation soon becomes a Bevere strain. Mrs Grosvenor Crescent's most peremptory direction was that Ellen was on no account whatever to leave the house; and, to obviate the necessity for this, Bhe made arrangements for the girl's daily allowance of provisions to be delivered at the door. The consequence was that from one week's end to another. Ellen breathed no fresher air than found its way in at an open window, and saw no more of the outer world than was visible from the house. No wonder, therefore, that her spirits drooped and her strength flagged/ while marked melancholy took complete possession of her. At length, one evening Ellen received a communication from her mistress relative to an expected letter, which was to be forwarded to the country by the next post. The letter had duly arrived, and, in obedience to orders, the girl re-directed the envelope, and sallied forth immediately to despatch it. It was about nine o'clock in the evening, and it was the first time that she had been outside the door since the family had left. The fresh air, laden though it was with the dust and smoke of the London streets, seemed strangely invigorating, and the noise and bustle of the traffic, and the talk and laughter of the passers-by, affected her as theymighthavedoneapersonjustawakened from a long and dreary dream. She was at once dazed and delighted, and having posted her letter, she lingered for a moment at the corner, almost intoxicated with pleasure and wonderment at the uncaccustomed scene. As she thus stood gazing about her, open-mouthed, she was politely accosted by a well-dressed young man, who was lounging against a lamp-post, smoking a cigar. Now Ellen was by no means addicted to making promiscuous acquaintances among the opposite sex. She was, as we have said, a plain, unattractive girl, and as no one had ever attempted to flirt with her, Bhe was entirely innocent of any desire to court admiration.* On any other occasion she would doubtless have responded to the greeting of this young man with scant civility, but she could not resist the temptation of exchanging a few words with somebody after her solitary existence of the past three weeks. The young man addressed her so civilly and respectfully, and was evidently such a superior young man — for he wore a black coat, and had a ring upon his finger, and a gold chain across his waistcoat — that the girl's habitual reticence vanished, and she entered into conversation with him, in course of which he displayed a highly flattering appreciation of her condescension. She made no objection to his accompanying her to the door of her master's house, and, after nearly an hour's pleasant chat, they parted in the most amicable manner, with an understanding that the young man might by chance be passing that way about the same hour upon the following evening. (To be continued).

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