When their new friends were gone, John told his mother of the message from the strange gentleman, and gave her the money he had received for catching the horse.
‘You have done a better morning’s work than I have,’ she said.
‘Did you go to many places, mother?’
‘I will eat some of this good bread, my son, and then tell you.’
CHAPTER IV.
BE YE KIND-HEARTED.
‘I WENT first,’ said Mrs Leddam, ‘to the houses where I supposed rich people lived.’
‘There’s handsome houses in that wide street,’ interrupted John. ‘I saw, through the windows, pictures hanging on the walls, and such beautiful curtains! Did you go to them?’
‘I stopped at one door,’ his mother replied: ‘the servant was dressed as fine as a gentleman. He looked at me with contempt, and said his mistress had company. At another house, I got to see the lady. She was sitting in a velvet chair, rocking her baby, and was handsome and pleasant spoken, and asked me to sit down.’