Page:Memoir and correspondence of Caroline Herschel (1876).djvu/31

 the entrance of our street-door, when he glided like a shadow along, wrapped in a great coat, followed by my mother with a parcel containing his accoutrements. After he had succeeded in passing unnoticed beyond the last sentinel at Herrenhausen he changed his dress. . . . My brother's keeping himself so carefully from all notice was undoubtedly to avoid the danger of being pressed, for all unengaged young men were forced into the service. Even the clergy, unless they had livings, were not exempted." During these times of public and private peril, the little girl was sent regularly to the garrison school with her brother Alexander till three in the afternoon, when she went to another school till six, to learn knitting.

In addition to these occupations, she was called upon to make herself useful when the fastidious Jacob honoured the humble table with his presence, "and poor I got many a whipping for being awkward at supplying the place of footman or waiter." The sight of her mother constantly in tears; the prolonged absence