Even the experienced housekeeper, who had been tirewoman to a duchess in her young days, and who shared the office of decoratrix with Jennings and the French maid, Mademoiselle Coralie, newly hired to supplement Jennings in her duties, and be hated accordingly by that waiting damsel—even the housekeeper declared that it would be painting the lily to alter so much as a ruffle of lace, or an inch of satin ribbon.