April 9, 2025 • 11 mins
Eight girls and their dog Timmy Loo take a summer break filled with cooking, self-discovery, and hilarious misadventures in this delightful vacation story. Discover hundreds of ad-free audiobooks, soothing sounds for sleep and meditation, and more—unwind and learn at www.adfreebooks.com!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The public domain willing service. At this unexpected solution of
her great problem, Missus Lennox recovered herself quickly and exclaimed,
oh my DearS, if you only would, But do you
really mean it? Do they? As she looked at Aunt
Molly for confirmation of an offer too good to be true.
(00:22):
I think they do, said Aunt Molly, smiling, And I
can assure you, dear Missus Lennox, that whatever these young
ladies undertake will be well and thoroughly done. How can
we do it? Said Nan? Do you mean for the
English ladies to think we are really servants? Of course
they must, cried Millicent, who had waked up to the
(00:45):
glorious possibilities of the situation. Unless it's a real masquerade,
it will be no fun at all. But where can
we get the right kind of caps and aprons? Aunt
Molly volunteered to go down to town for them that afternoon,
and Missus Lennox, seeing that these strange girls were really
(01:06):
in earnest, excepted the blessing Heaven had so unexpectedly sent
to her, and at once began to make the most
of it. Which of you are the best cooks? She inquired,
with an air of a general marshaling his forces, but
such a capable and straightforward general that no offense could
(01:26):
possibly be felt. Hester Marjorie was the immediate reply of
the other six. Very well, said Missus Lennox. Hester shall
be the head cook, since you named her first, and
Marjorie assistant. Then Jesse and Betty were selected to be
the deftest waitresses, and Millicent and Helen were declared ideal
(01:48):
ladies maids. Helen preferred to be Missus Lennox's own maid,
so Millicent was allotted to The English visitors all agreed
that Marguerite would make the most picturesque parlormaid, and as
no other post could be thought of, Nan said she
would be private secretary and librarian. Missus Lennox entered heartily
(02:10):
into all the details of the scheme and agreed with
Millicent that if the thing were done at all, it
must be done completely and with the most careful attention
to minutiae. Could you submit to be spoken to as menials,
said Missus Lennox, for I am most anxious to impress
(02:31):
my English friends with the superiority of our servants over theirs.
You would have to be modest and deferential address me
as Madame, and both the visitors as your ladyship. But
all this made it seem more of a lark, and
after the copious directions, Missus Lennox went home and the
(02:54):
eight girls promised to appear the next afternoon. At two
that night, Aunt Molly returned from the city, bringing wonderful paraphernalia.
The waitresses were to wear white peak skirts and linen
shirt waists. Their caps were of the conventional shape, and
their aprons were volumeless, indeed, with cross straps and broad wings,
(03:17):
which Uncle Ned declared could not be surpassed for the
acreage in all London. The cooks were to wear white too,
linen blouses with rolled up sleeves and real cook's capes.
The lady's maids wore pink and blue gingham respectively, with
aprons befrilled and beflounced, and most fetching little caps with
(03:40):
ribbon bows. But Marguerite was pronounced the gem of the collection,
in her plain black dress with a white apron of
thin lawn, trimmed the wide accordion plaited ruffle, and tied
back with a most enormous bow. A hand in each
pocket of her apron. She looked like the coquiadish parlor
(04:02):
maid one sees on the stage or in the comic papers.
A bewitching little cap was jauntly perched on her fluffy,
golden hair, and her high heeled slippers clicked gayly as
she tripped around. At two o'clock, precisely on the day
of the performance, the epe presented themselves at Missus Lennox's
(04:22):
door and were admitted by that lady herself. Why you
are a proper looking lot, she exclaimed, as the girls
filed in. And you've taken a weight off my mind.
I can tell you. When I woke this morning, I
thought it was all dream. You're coming, I mean, and
I have not really felt sure of you until I
(04:42):
saw you approaching. Goodness, gracious miss Marguerite, I think your
ladyship will open her eyes at my parlor maid. Of course,
I shall call you by your first names. They are
rather unusual for servants, some of them, but I will
explain that American servants are awfully elaborately dubbed. Then the
girls flew to their respective places and work began in
(05:06):
earnest Hester and Marjorie were a bit appalled at the
overflowing condition of Missus lennox larder, but Nan and Millicent,
having nothing to do, came to their assistance, and a
really fine dinner was soon In course of preparation, Jesse
and Betty set the table, while Marguerite gathered flowers and
(05:28):
decorated the various rooms until they were fragrant bowers of beauty.
Missus Lennox's house was a large and luxurious mansion, exquisitely
appointed and with beautiful furnishings. Indeed, so delighted was Marguerite
with her surroundings and with the mirrored representations of her
pretty self, that she almost forgot to do her work.
(05:51):
Isn't it fun? Said Jesse, as she passed the parlor
door with a huge silver basket which Missus Lennox had
just entrusted to her. It's a delight to set a
table with such lovely things. How are the cooks? Said Marguerite,
leaving off pirouetting before the pure glass and coming out
to chum with the others. But her entrance to the
(06:13):
kitchen was not welcomed. Go away, cried Marjorie. Fly Away, you, butterfly,
We're really busy and much flustered. Besides, you seem to
be frying everything, commented Marguerite teasingly. There is a sound
as sizzling grease. The crackling of grease saved Rome, called
(06:33):
out Hester, and Marguerite went back giggling. But at last
everything was in readiness, and not any too soon either,
for the door bell rang a resounding peal. Hurriedly, the
servants confabbed as to whose place it was to go
to the door in the absence of a man's servant.
They concluded it was a waitress's place, but Marguerite settled
(06:58):
the question by remarking that no matter whose place it was,
she would go anyhow. Nan was ensconced in the library,
Helen was with Missus Lennox in her boudoir, and Melicent
waiting in the guest's apartment. But the eyes of the
other four were peering cautiously from behind doors and portieres
(07:21):
as the pretty and audacious parlor maid flung open the
front door with an air that would have done credit
to O Lord Chamberlaynan, Missus Lennox murmured the grand lady visitor,
somewhat taken aback at the lovely vision, confronting her. Yes,
your ladyship's, said Marguerite's pretty voice. Will your ladyships enter?
(07:44):
She courtesied low, then ushered the visitors to the drawing
room and presented her silver tray for cards. Lady Pendered
and Lady Lucy Pendered, said the elder guest in dignified tones,
and Marguerite reddened and whipped her tray behind her, wondering
if she had made a mistake. She thought she caught
(08:06):
the echo of giggling retreat to the kitchen, but she
determined to play her part as well as she could.
She tripped upstairs and announced the guest to Missus Lennox,
I will go down at once, said that Lady Helen
my shawl. Yes, Madam, said Helen, gracefully, offering the dainty
trifle of a shawl. And then Missus Lennox sailed downstairs,
(08:29):
and the two girls dropped to the floor and rocked
back and forth in silent paroxysms of mirth. Then a
bell summoned Helen and Millicent, and resolutely resumed a prim demeanor.
They went downstairs side by side and presented themselves for orders.
Although a lady of age and experience, Lady Pendered had
(08:52):
never seen just such lady's maids as these before, as
she raised her lunn and stared at them with perhaps
pardonable curiosity. Millicent attend these ladies, said Missus Lennox easily.
I trust she will make you comfortable. Lady Pendard, Helen
is my own maid, but I beg you will command her.
(09:13):
Lady Lucy. Lady Lucy Pendered was a pale, willowy girl
of perhaps eighteen or twenty, with light blue eyes and
straw colored hair, which was most exceedingly frizzled. Millicent and
Helen promptly disliked her, but with demure deference. They relieved
the distinguished visitors of their wraps and hand bags and
(09:36):
preceded them upstairs. Arriving at their rooms, Lady Pender dismissed Helen,
declaring that Missus Lennox must need her, and stating that
she and her daughter could easily manage with one maid,
which Millicent discovered to mean that Lady Lucy would not
monopolize her services and Lady Pendard would shift for herself.
(10:00):
As of beginning, Lady Lucy reclined languidly on a couch
and thrust out her foot, which was heavily shod after
the most exaggerated English fashion. For a moment, Milicent felt
annoyed and her face flushed deep red. Then, remembering it
was a game, she threw herself into it in her
(10:23):
own whole souled way, and dropping on her knees before
the pale haired aristocrat, she removed her heavy boots, brought
her slippers and put them on for her, then proceeded
to assist her through the intricacies of a very elaborate toilet.
Milicent afterward confessed to Marjorie that she did want to
(10:45):
burn the Lady Lucy's noble forehead when she frizzled that
ridiculous nest on top of her head, but at the
time she was a most exemplary lady's maid, deft, patient
and willing. Meanwhile, Helen was assisting Missus Lennox to don
her grandest attire in honor of her titled guests and
(11:08):
not having to masquerade just then. Helen and the eccentric
old lady were becoming vast friends. End of chapter fourteen,
The public domain willing service. At this unexpected solution of
her great problem, Missus Lennox recovered herself quickly and exclaimed,
oh my DearS, if you only would, But do you
really mean it? Do they? As she looked at Aunt
Molly for confirmation of an offer too good to be true.
(00:22):
I think they do, said Aunt Molly, smiling, And I
can assure you, dear Missus Lennox, that whatever these young
ladies undertake will be well and thoroughly done. How can
we do it? Said Nan? Do you mean for the
English ladies to think we are really servants? Of course
they must, cried Millicent, who had waked up to the
(00:45):
glorious possibilities of the situation. Unless it's a real masquerade,
it will be no fun at all. But where can
we get the right kind of caps and aprons? Aunt
Molly volunteered to go down to town for them that afternoon,
and Missus Lennox, seeing that these strange girls were really
(01:06):
in earnest, excepted the blessing Heaven had so unexpectedly sent
to her, and at once began to make the most
of it. Which of you are the best cooks? She inquired,
with an air of a general marshaling his forces, but
such a capable and straightforward general that no offense could
(01:26):
possibly be felt. Hester Marjorie was the immediate reply of
the other six. Very well, said Missus Lennox. Hester shall
be the head cook, since you named her first, and
Marjorie assistant. Then Jesse and Betty were selected to be
the deftest waitresses, and Millicent and Helen were declared ideal
(01:48):
ladies maids. Helen preferred to be Missus Lennox's own maid,
so Millicent was allotted to The English visitors all agreed
that Marguerite would make the most picturesque parlormaid, and as
no other post could be thought of, Nan said she
would be private secretary and librarian. Missus Lennox entered heartily
(02:10):
into all the details of the scheme and agreed with
Millicent that if the thing were done at all, it
must be done completely and with the most careful attention
to minutiae. Could you submit to be spoken to as menials,
said Missus Lennox, for I am most anxious to impress
(02:31):
my English friends with the superiority of our servants over theirs.
You would have to be modest and deferential address me
as Madame, and both the visitors as your ladyship. But
all this made it seem more of a lark, and
after the copious directions, Missus Lennox went home and the
(02:54):
eight girls promised to appear the next afternoon. At two
that night, Aunt Molly returned from the city, bringing wonderful paraphernalia.
The waitresses were to wear white peak skirts and linen
shirt waists. Their caps were of the conventional shape, and
their aprons were volumeless, indeed, with cross straps and broad wings,
(03:17):
which Uncle Ned declared could not be surpassed for the
acreage in all London. The cooks were to wear white too,
linen blouses with rolled up sleeves and real cook's capes.
The lady's maids wore pink and blue gingham respectively, with
aprons befrilled and beflounced, and most fetching little caps with
(03:40):
ribbon bows. But Marguerite was pronounced the gem of the collection,
in her plain black dress with a white apron of
thin lawn, trimmed the wide accordion plaited ruffle, and tied
back with a most enormous bow. A hand in each
pocket of her apron. She looked like the coquiadish parlor
(04:02):
maid one sees on the stage or in the comic papers.
A bewitching little cap was jauntly perched on her fluffy,
golden hair, and her high heeled slippers clicked gayly as
she tripped around. At two o'clock, precisely on the day
of the performance, the epe presented themselves at Missus Lennox's
(04:22):
door and were admitted by that lady herself. Why you
are a proper looking lot, she exclaimed, as the girls
filed in. And you've taken a weight off my mind.
I can tell you. When I woke this morning, I
thought it was all dream. You're coming, I mean, and
I have not really felt sure of you until I
(04:42):
saw you approaching. Goodness, gracious miss Marguerite, I think your
ladyship will open her eyes at my parlor maid. Of course,
I shall call you by your first names. They are
rather unusual for servants, some of them, but I will
explain that American servants are awfully elaborately dubbed. Then the
girls flew to their respective places and work began in
(05:06):
earnest Hester and Marjorie were a bit appalled at the
overflowing condition of Missus lennox larder, but Nan and Millicent,
having nothing to do, came to their assistance, and a
really fine dinner was soon In course of preparation, Jesse
and Betty set the table, while Marguerite gathered flowers and
(05:28):
decorated the various rooms until they were fragrant bowers of beauty.
Missus Lennox's house was a large and luxurious mansion, exquisitely
appointed and with beautiful furnishings. Indeed, so delighted was Marguerite
with her surroundings and with the mirrored representations of her
pretty self, that she almost forgot to do her work.
(05:51):
Isn't it fun? Said Jesse, as she passed the parlor
door with a huge silver basket which Missus Lennox had
just entrusted to her. It's a delight to set a
table with such lovely things. How are the cooks? Said Marguerite,
leaving off pirouetting before the pure glass and coming out
to chum with the others. But her entrance to the
(06:13):
kitchen was not welcomed. Go away, cried Marjorie. Fly Away, you, butterfly,
We're really busy and much flustered. Besides, you seem to
be frying everything, commented Marguerite teasingly. There is a sound
as sizzling grease. The crackling of grease saved Rome, called
(06:33):
out Hester, and Marguerite went back giggling. But at last
everything was in readiness, and not any too soon either,
for the door bell rang a resounding peal. Hurriedly, the
servants confabbed as to whose place it was to go
to the door in the absence of a man's servant.
They concluded it was a waitress's place, but Marguerite settled
(06:58):
the question by remarking that no matter whose place it was,
she would go anyhow. Nan was ensconced in the library,
Helen was with Missus Lennox in her boudoir, and Melicent
waiting in the guest's apartment. But the eyes of the
other four were peering cautiously from behind doors and portieres
(07:21):
as the pretty and audacious parlor maid flung open the
front door with an air that would have done credit
to O Lord Chamberlaynan, Missus Lennox murmured the grand lady visitor,
somewhat taken aback at the lovely vision, confronting her. Yes,
your ladyship's, said Marguerite's pretty voice. Will your ladyships enter?
(07:44):
She courtesied low, then ushered the visitors to the drawing
room and presented her silver tray for cards. Lady Pendered
and Lady Lucy Pendered, said the elder guest in dignified tones,
and Marguerite reddened and whipped her tray behind her, wondering
if she had made a mistake. She thought she caught
(08:06):
the echo of giggling retreat to the kitchen, but she
determined to play her part as well as she could.
She tripped upstairs and announced the guest to Missus Lennox,
I will go down at once, said that Lady Helen
my shawl. Yes, Madam, said Helen, gracefully, offering the dainty
trifle of a shawl. And then Missus Lennox sailed downstairs,
(08:29):
and the two girls dropped to the floor and rocked
back and forth in silent paroxysms of mirth. Then a
bell summoned Helen and Millicent, and resolutely resumed a prim demeanor.
They went downstairs side by side and presented themselves for orders.
Although a lady of age and experience, Lady Pendered had
(08:52):
never seen just such lady's maids as these before, as
she raised her lunn and stared at them with perhaps
pardonable curiosity. Millicent attend these ladies, said Missus Lennox easily.
I trust she will make you comfortable. Lady Pendard, Helen
is my own maid, but I beg you will command her.
(09:13):
Lady Lucy. Lady Lucy Pendered was a pale, willowy girl
of perhaps eighteen or twenty, with light blue eyes and
straw colored hair, which was most exceedingly frizzled. Millicent and
Helen promptly disliked her, but with demure deference. They relieved
the distinguished visitors of their wraps and hand bags and
(09:36):
preceded them upstairs. Arriving at their rooms, Lady Pender dismissed Helen,
declaring that Missus Lennox must need her, and stating that
she and her daughter could easily manage with one maid,
which Millicent discovered to mean that Lady Lucy would not
monopolize her services and Lady Pendard would shift for herself.
(10:00):
As of beginning, Lady Lucy reclined languidly on a couch
and thrust out her foot, which was heavily shod after
the most exaggerated English fashion. For a moment, Milicent felt
annoyed and her face flushed deep red. Then, remembering it
was a game, she threw herself into it in her
(10:23):
own whole souled way, and dropping on her knees before
the pale haired aristocrat, she removed her heavy boots, brought
her slippers and put them on for her, then proceeded
to assist her through the intricacies of a very elaborate toilet.
Milicent afterward confessed to Marjorie that she did want to
(10:45):
burn the Lady Lucy's noble forehead when she frizzled that
ridiculous nest on top of her head, but at the
time she was a most exemplary lady's maid, deft, patient
and willing. Meanwhile, Helen was assisting Missus Lennox to don
her grandest attire in honor of her titled guests and
(11:08):
not having to masquerade just then. Helen and the eccentric
old lady were becoming vast friends. End of chapter fourteen,
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