“And what led you to wish for life in London, Charity?”
“Eh! bless you, I want none to live i’ London. It’s a great, smoky, dirty place.”
“Then what did you want?”
“I wanted yo’,” said Charity, with a nod at her mistress. “Lady Lettice, yo’ll not turn me away? If things is so bad you cannot afford to keep me, you shalln’t: I can earn enough by my spinning half th’ day, and serve you i’ t’ other half. But yo’ll want two: I’m sure Rachel can ne’er do all th’ work, and you’d best have me, for nob’ry else ’ll put so much heart into ’t as I shall. Do let me stop, for I cannot abear to leave you.”
It was a moment before Lady Louvaine could speak. Then she held out her hand to Charity.
“My faithful Charity, I will not turn thee away! So long as I have two loaves of bread, thou mayest be sure of one.”
“Thank God, that’s all right!” said Charity with a sigh of evident relief. “We’s (we shall) get on famous, Rachel and me, and nother on us ’ll feel as if we’d been cast away of a desert island, as I’ve been feeling afore yo’ come. Eh, but it is a town, is this!”
“Charity, I wonder how you won in the house,” said Edith. “My Lord Oxford—”
“I’ve got a bit more gumption, Mrs Edith, than you credit me with. I brought a letter to my Lord, or I should ne’er ha’ looked to get in else.”
“A letter!—from whom?”