"Oh ay, bless the girl, what a tongue she has! Make a fine preacher one o' those days."
A bell rang, and Peggy know she must answer it.
"Goodbye," she said, with disappointment in her tone. "But I say, mister, if you go and get your soul cured, you come back and tell me."
"Ay, that I will."
The pedlar departed shaking his head; and so ended Peggy's first sermon. She was very silent all that day thinking about it.
Shortly after this she was called into the little dining room by Helen, to receive her first wages. It was an eventful day in her life. She looked at the money as it was placed in her hand. It was half a sovereign. Never had she handled a gold coin before. Her aunt's money had been left to her in silver.
"I am very pleased with you, Peggy," said Helen to her, "but of course you have still a great deal to learn. You are too noisy, too fond of talking, and break too many things. All this you must try to get the better of. I know you try to do your duty faithfully and well; ask God to help you to cure these faults."
"Yes 'm," said Peggy, who was certainly learning humility. Then, with a little burst of enthusiasm, she added, "Please 'm, I've never had so much money of my own afore. May spend it just as I have a mind?"
"I think you had better lay half by, for you will be wanting some new boots soon. You will have to be careful over it."
A shade of disappointment came over Peggy's face. She took her treasured coin upstairs.