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her； as to produce a harmonious and orderly system。
Such a housekeeper was Mrs。 Shelby； whom we have already described； and such our readers may remember to have met with。 If they are not common at the South； it is because they are not common in the world。 They are to be found there as often as anywhere； and； when existing； find in that peculiar state of society a brilliant opportunity to exhibit their domestic talent。
Such a housekeeper Marie St。 Clare was not； nor her mother before her。 Indolent and childish； unsystematic and improvident； it was not to be expected that servants trained under her care should not be so likewise； and she had very justly described to Miss Ophelia the state of confusion she would find in the family； though she had not ascribed it to the proper cause。
The first morning of her regency； Miss Ophelia was up at four o’clock； and having attended to all the adjustments of her own chamber； as she had done ever since she came there； to the great amazement of the chambermaid； she prepared for a vigorous onslaught on the cupboards and closets of the establishment of which she had the keys。
The store…room； the linen…presses； the china…closet； the kitchen and cellar； that day； all went under an awful review。 Hidden things of darkness were brought to light to an extent that alarmed all the principalities and powers of kitchen and chamber； and caused many wonderings and murmurings about “dese yer northern ladies” from the domestic cabinet。
Old Dinah； the head cook； and principal of all rule and authority in the kitchen department； was filled with wrath at what she considered an invasion of privilege。 No feudal baron in Magna Charta times could have more thoroughly resented some incursion of the crown。
Dinah was a character in her own way； and it would be injustice to her memory not to give the reader a little idea of her。 She was a native and essential cook； as much as Aunt Chloe；—cooking being an indigenous talent of the African race； but Chloe was a trained and methodical one； who moved in an orderly domestic harness； while Dinah was a self…taught genius； and； like geniuses in general； was positive； opinionated and erratic； to the last degree。
Like a certain class of modern philosophers； Dinah perfectly scorned logic and reason in every shape； and always took refuge in intuitive certainty； and here she was perfectly impregnable。 No possible amount of talent； or authority； or explanation； could ever make her believe that any other way was better than her own； or that the course she had pursued in the smallest matter could be in the least modified。 This had been a conceded point with her old mistress； Marie’s mother； and “Miss Marie；” as Dinah always called her young mistress； even after her marriage； found it easier to submit than contend； and so Dinah had ruled supreme。 This was the easier； in that she was perfect mistress of that diplomatic art which unites the utmost subservience of manner with the utmost inflexibility as to measure。
Dinah was mistress of the whole art and mystery of excuse…making； in all its branches。 Indeed； it was an axiom with her that the cook can do no wrong； and a cook in a Southern kitchen finds abundance of heads and shoulders on which to lay off every sin and frailty； so as to maintain her own immaculateness entire。 If any part of the dinner was a failure； there were fifty indisputably good reasons for it； and it was the fault undeniably of fifty other people； whom Dinah berated with unsparing zeal。
But it was very seldom that there was any failure in Dinah’s last results。 Though her mode of doing everything was peculiarly meandering and circuitous； and without any sort of calculation as to time and place；—though her kitchen generally looked as if it had been arranged by a hurricane blowing through it； and she had about as many places for each cooking utensil as there were days in the year；—yet； if one would have patience to wait her own good time； up would come her dinner in perfect order； and in a style of preparation with which an epicure could find no fault。
It was now the season of incipient preparation for dinner。 Dinah； who required large intervals of reflection and repose； and was studious of ease in all her arrangements； was seated on the kitchen floor； smoking a short； stumpy pipe； to which she was much addicted； and which she always kindled up； as a sort of censer； whenever she felt the need of an inspiration in her arrangements。 It was Dinah’s mode of invoking the domestic Muses。
Seated around her were various members of that rising race with which a Southern household abounds； engaged in shelling peas； peeling potatoes； picking pin…feathers out of fowls； and other preparatory arrangements；—Dinah every once in a while interrupting her meditations to give a poke； or a rap on the head； to some of the young operators； with the pudding…stick that lay by her side。 In fact； Dinah ruled over the woolly heads of the younger members with a rod of iron； and seemed to consider them born for no earthly purpose but to “save her steps；” as she phrased it。 It was the spirit of the system under which she had grown up； and she carried it out to its full extent。
Miss Ophelia； after passing on her reformatory tour through all the other parts of the establishment； now entered the kitchen。 Dinah had heard； from various sources； what was going on； and resolved to stand on defensive and conservative ground；—mentally determined to oppose and ignore every new measure； without any actual observable contest。
The kitchen was a large brick…floored apartment； with a great old…fashioned fireplace stretching along one side of it；—an arrangement which St。 Clare had vainly tried to persuade Dinah to exchange for the convenience of a modern cook…stove。 Not she。 No Puseyite；1 or conservative of any school； was ever more inflexibly attached to time…honored inconveniences than Dinah。
When St。 Clare had first returned from the north； impressed with the system and order of his uncle’s kitchen arrangements； he had largely provided his own with an array of cupboards； drawers； and various apparatus； to induce systematic regulation； under the sanguine illusion that it would be of any possible assistance to Dinah in her arrangements。 He might as well have provided them for a squirrel or a magpie。 The more drawers and closets there were； the more hiding…holes could Dinah make for the acomommodation of old rags； hair…combs； old shoes； ribbons； cast…off artificial flowers； and other articles of vertu； wherein her soul delighted。
When Miss Ophelia entered the kitchen Dinah did not rise； but smoked on in sublime tranquillity； regarding her movements obliquely out of the corner of her eye； but apparently intent only on the operations around her。
Miss Ophelia commenced opening a set of drawers。
“What is this drawer for； Dinah？” she said。
“It’s handy for most anything； Missis；” said Dinah。 So it appeared to be。 From the variety it contained； Miss Ophelia pulled out first a fine damask table…cloth stained with blood； having evidently been used to envelop some raw meat。
“What’s this； Dinah？ You don’t wrap up meat in your mistress’ best table…cloths？”
“O Lor； Missis； no； the towels was all a missin’—so I jest did it。 I laid out to wash that a；—that’s why I put it thar。”
“Shif’less！” said Miss Ophelia to herself； proceeding to tumble over the drawer； where she found a nutmeg…grater and two or three nutmegs； a Methodist hymn…book； a couple of soiled Madras handkerchiefs； some yarn and knitting…work； a paper of tobacomo and a pipe； a few crackers； one or two gilded china…saucers with some pomade in them； one or two thin old shoes； a piece of flannel carefully pinned up enclosing some small white onions； several damask table…napkins； some coarse crash towels； some twine and darning…needles； and several broken papers； from which sundry sweet herbs were sifting into the drawer。
“Where do you keep your nutmegs； Dinah？” said Miss Ophelia； with the air of one who prayed for patience。
“Most anywhar； Missis； there’s some in that cracked tea…cup； up there； and there’s some over in that ar cupboard。”
“Here are some in the grater；” said Miss Ophelia； holding them up。
“Laws； ye