It is very rare, these girls say, to find a mistress who is willing to allow her maids to leave the house except on their days out.

They concede certain hours of rest, it is true, but those hours must be spent within doors.

"Why, if you went out I should be sure to need you," is the usual explanation.
Imagine a factory girl or a stenographer being required to remain after hours on the chance of being needed for extra work.
There is an aspect to this phase of the servant question which is generally overlooked by employers.

This is an isolation from human intercourse to be found in no other industry.

When the household employs only one servant the isolation is absolute.