But in a little while, when it was rung for, Lizzy very innocently replied that she had eaten it up.

As it was sent back to the kitchen, her only idea was that it must be for herself.

But on surprise being expressed that she had eaten what was so highly peppered and seasoned, she very quaintly answered, "Ou, I liket it a' the better." A well-known servant of the old school was John, the servant of Pitfour, Mr.Ferguson, M.P., himself a most eccentric character, long father of the House of Commons, and a great friend of Pitt.

John used to entertain the tenants, on Pitfour's brief visits to his estate, with numerous anecdotes of his master and Mr.Pitt; but he always prefaced them with something in the style of Cardinal Wolsey's _Ego et rex meus_--with "Me, and Pitt, and Pitfour," went somewhere, or performed some exploit.

The famous Duchess of Gordon once wrote a note to John (the name of this eccentric valet), and said, "John, put Pitfour into the carriage on Tuesday, and bring him up to Gordon Castle to dinner." After sufficiently scratching his head, and considering what he should do, he showed the letter to Pitfour, who smiled, and said drily, "Well, John, I suppose we must go." An old domestic of this class gave a capital reason to his _young_ master for his being allowed to do as he liked:--"Ye needna find faut wi' me, Maister Jeems; _I hae been langer aboot the place than yersel_." It may seem ungracious to close this chapter with a communication which appears to convey an unfavourable impression of an old servant.