Peggy drew a long breath.
"Why, I never says nothin' to her more than I can help."
Customers as usual interrupted the conversation, but Peggy departed from the sweet-shop with new ideas in her head.
"'Tis as teacher said to you, Peggy—you're a lookin' for big things and not mindin' the little. But, oh lor! To think of me bein' in service to my aunt! If she were a missis, I wonder if I'd like her better!"
She pondered slowly as she walked down the street.
"Wonder what that there maidservant in the Bible would have done if she'd been lookin' after aunt! But there's no cure for cripples that I knows of, or I might be able to do her good."
She passed a flower-girl selling violets, then she looked back at her, and a bright idea struck her.
Hastily she felt for one of her precious coppers, and after considerable haggling over the bunches, she selected one, paid her penny, and ran off home as fast as her legs could carry her.
When she came in she found her aunt lying down, her work, untouched, by her side. This was such an unusual sight that Peggy was quite taken aback.
She stepped across the room quietly.