“You may come in,” she said.
But it was not a servant, as she had supposed; it was Joan, with a bundle upon her arm.
“You are going away, Joan?” she said. “Tonight?”
“Ay,” Joan answered, as she came and stood upon the hearth. “I'm goin' away toneet.”
“You have quite made up your mind?”
“Ay,” said Joan. “I mun break loose. I want to get as far fro' th' owd life as I con. I'd loike to forget th' most on it. I'm goin' toneet, because I dunnot want to be axed questions. If I passed thro' th' town by day-leet, theer's them as ud fret me wi' their talk.”
“Have you seen Mr. Grace?” Anice asked.
“No. I shanna ha' th' chance to say good-by to him. I coom partly to ax yo' to say it fur me.”
“Yes, I will say it I wish there were no need that I should, though. I wish I could keep you.”
There was a brief silence. Joan knelt on one knee by the fender.