“Good evening; will you come a little nearer?” said I.
The stranger obeyed, and I suddenly became frightened; for the stride and awkward gait convinced me it was a man in woman’s clothes. Thoughts of robbery and murder rushed through my head as the figure advanced towards me; but just then, the fire, which had been burning dimly, sent up a bright tongue of flame, which lighted up the room, and shone on a face that I thought was not altogether unknown to me.
“Where do you come from?” said I.
“Little Coram Street, London, ma’am,” in a voice of studied softness.
“Hum! then I fear a country place won’t suit you.”
“O yes, it will, ma’am! I likes the country best.”
“I am afraid you are not used to hard work. Did you ever scour a room?”
“I can work harder than people think, ma’am.”
“Well, but, did you ever?”