In the hierarchy of domestic servants the top man is the butler. In books he is generally even more important and more intelligent than his master.
The most famous fictional butler is certainly leeves.
P.G. Wodehouse created this servant, 'with a brain that made his head bulge out at the back', in the twenties. But, as a matter of fact, even then very few people in Britain had servants.
Nowadays you might even find a cabinet-minister doing the washing up.
A middle-calss family often has a cleaning-lady. She comes for a few hours a day to clean the house and do the ironing.
There might also be an au-pair girl. This is a a good arrengement for everybody. In return for a little help with the housework and the children, the au-pair girl gets a room, her meals, a modest salary and time off every day to attend a language school.
Living-in maids, housekeepers, valets and butlers are a thing of the distant past in England.
However, there are no butlers in the queue at the Job Centre.
They all work in Hollywood now.
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