The man whistled. "If you're not a Londoner, I'm a Dutchman. You're pretty sharp, you are."
"No, I ain't," said Juliet, stolidly; "I'm that stupid and awkward that I can't do nothing right. So I want a general place, I do."
"Oh!" said the big man, laughing; "awkward and stupid wants a place. Hope you'll get it, miss. Well, now, look here. Go right on and get out of the wood as quick as ten thousand lightnings, or else you'll be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law."
Juliet wriggled away from under his heavy hand and ran right ahead, thankful to escape from the gun.
She came soon to the edge of the wood and found a fence easy to climb. On the other side of this she came into a lane which led out on a highroad. It was now late in the day; the sun was getting low, and the shadows grew longer and the air sweeter. She walked on quietly, thinking herself safe from pursuit. How surprised every one would be when they discovered that she had started in life by herself! Perhaps they would see that she was not so stupid and awkward as they thought.
"But I've got no place yet," said the girl to herself. "I must find one pretty sharp or I shall have nowhere to sleep to-night. Here's two houses; either on 'em would do for me."
Two small brick houses stood by the roadside. They had green doors, and shutters outside the windows, and little gardens in front.
"There ain't not a bit of use in being shy," said Juliet to herself, her courage all the while sinking lower and lower. "I'm as bold as brass, I always was. Here goes!"
She walked up to the door of the first cottage and rapped on it with her knuckles.
It was opened by a tall, thin, elderly woman in a high black bonnet. "What do you want?" she said.