Fanny knew that neither mother nor father would be pleased to see her with Jessie Collins, and she tried to get away from her as they drew near their own house. But Jessie held her arm tightly.
"I haven't told you half the news yet, Fan!" she exclaimed. "I tell you it is as true as I am here that there'll be work soon for all us girls, and we need not go to service, and I for one am very glad of it."
"Oh, if you get a nice comfortable place, I don't see why—"
Jessie laughed mockingly. "I do though," she said. "And I told mother this morning she needn't bother herself to look for another place for me, for I shall go to work in the blacking factory as soon as ever it opens."
Fanny made a wry face. "I hate the smell of blacking," she said.
"So do I," answered Jessie; "but it isn't so bad when it gives you liberty to go where you like in the evening, and dress how you like, too."
Fanny glanced at her companion and smiled. But just then a voice was heard calling her in a loud tone, and she crept through the hedge again, and came face to face with her brother.
"You've been out with that Jessie Collins, instead of waiting indoors to see me and father," he said accusingly.
"I didn't go out on purpose to see Jessie," replied his sister, in an aggrieved tone. And she ran in to see her father.
"Well, my girl, what made you run off just as I was coming in?" he said.