People
Gold is for the mistress-- silver for the maid--
— Rudyard Kipling
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The line pairs gold with a mistress and silver with a maid, arranging precious metals alongside a difference in social position. The contrast suggests that wealth and rank determine what each person receives. Its compact parallel phrasing makes that hierarchy sound orderly and matter-of-fact.
Context reviewed