"'Very much; but I don't know that you will suit me.'
"'I'm thinking,' said I, 'that if the mistress were to see me she would be of a different opinion, sir.'
"'Very likely she would. I dare say Mrs. Brandon would highly approve of you. Perhaps, after all, you will do. What are you?'
"'Plain cook, laundress, and dairymaid,' said I.
"'Age? Mrs. Brandon would like to know.'
"'Twenty-five. I have got five years' character from one place, and three from another, and a testimonial from the minister. I may look rough, with just being off the sea, sir, but I think the mistress will find out that I am fit for any kind of work. I am not afraid of work or distance, or solitude, or anything.'
"'You are a trump,' said he, 'a regular brick; but confess that you are greedy. If I say thirty pounds a year, you will go more than a hundred miles up the country?' That was a great distance from town in those days, Miss Jean, though they think nothing of it now. All my fellow-passengers objected to such distances, but I had no objection.
"'Yes, sir,' said I, cheerfully, 'I will go, and be much beholden to you for the offer.'
"'And start to-morrow, wages to commence then?' said he.
"'The sooner the better,' said I. 'Only, if I want to send siller to my friends I may not be able to do it from such a wild place.'