was her mother’s foreboding remark; but quick was the consolation of there being nothing like practice. —NORTHANGER ABBEY The mistress of a house is rather like the CEO of a major corporation. She oversees all operations: food service, personnel, training, procurement, budget, charitable contributions, interior design, and the day-to-day household activities. There are some ladies who delegate decision-making (and virtually all active involvement) to their housekeeper or a grown-up daughter, but one cannot imagine any of Jane Austen’s heroines doing so after their marriages. No doubt they would plan menus themselves and ensure that their children were cared for and educated, their husbands comfortable and well-fed, and their budget well in hand, all with a smile and a metaphorical The Buck Stops Here sign on their elegant Sheraton writing desks. • Develop a good relationship with your housekeeper. It is likely that she came with the house, has been with the family for ages, and changed your husband’s diapers, so do not dismiss her out of hand.
