49 The ideal servant

It is a good thing my aunt Harriet died years ago.

If she were alive today she would not be able to air her views on her favourite topic of conversation: domestic servants.

Aunt Harriet lived in that leisurely age when servants were employed to do housework.

She had a huge, rambling country house called‘The Gables’.

She was sentimentally attached to this house, for even though it was far too big for her needs, she persisted in living there long after her husband's death.

Before she grew old, Aunt Harriet used to entertain lavishly.