The miller shook his head more doubtfully than before.
“I think that you left the service of your young ladies in good time,” muttered the miller.
“Do not dare to say a word against them—against even Mistress Alice, who, I allow, hath a tantrum now and again, when the seamstress fails her in time or mode,” said the girl. “Of course when I reflected that I was but a servant, so to speak, and that my duty was to obey my mistresses, I would hesitate no longer. Duty is a virtue, sir, so I submitted without a complaint.”
“Ay, you would do that,” murmured the blacksmith.
“I said to myself——”
“Oh,” groaned the miller.
Nelly ignored the groan. She went on demurely from where she was interrupted.
“I said to myself, 'Should there be evil in it none can hold me blameworthy, since I was only obeying the order of them that were set over me.' I went and I was glad that I went, for I saw no evil in word or act.”
“I'm grieved to hear it, Nelly,” said the miller.
“What, you are grieved to hear that I saw nothing of evil? Oh, sir!”