"That will not be running in a straight road," and she reluctantly obeyed her sister's call, and picked flowers till the bell rang for the school-room dinner.
She was not free from lessons till four o'clock. Then, without saying a word to any one, she put on her hat and ran out of the house and down the long drive as fast as her legs could carry her. She knew one old widow by sight, but she had never been inside her cottage. She was rather shunned by her neighbours, as she was a very dirty, thriftless woman, and earned her living by collecting rags and bones.
Jill knocked at her door eagerly and breathlessly.
The old woman poked her head out and looked at her crossly.
"What do 'ee want?"
"I've come to visit you."
"Don't want no visits from plaguey children!"
The door was banged in her face.
Poor Jill retired discomfited. Then she thought of another widow who had lately lost her husband, a very respectable farmer. She lived at a farm some distance off, but distance was no detriment to Jill's purpose.
Away she went; across fields and down lanes; getting more tired and heated every step she took.