“I am afraid you will be obliged to give up the search, but if I can aid you I will do so.”
“Oh, thank you. I am so glad that I have got a place to stay, anyway, for a while, and p’r’aps when I find Charley he’ll provide for me.”
“I hope he will at least treat you as a son should treat a mother; but tell me how old you are, and if you are able to work.”
“Well, you see, I ain’t so old as I look, but Charley has worried me a lot, and that makes me look old, but I ain’t quite fifty, and I am sure I’m as strong and able to work as I was when I was twenty; but I was thinkin’ just now that p’r’aps Charley has got married, 157 and his wife is proud and won’t let him take care o’ me. Charley didn’t like to work very well, anyhow, but he might take care of us two, for he was a good enough carpenter and jiner. But I know if he’s got wild it’s all owin’ to the tricks of this awful big city.”
“The city is a bad place for a person out of employment.”
“Well, I’m dreadful glad I’ve found a place,” said Mrs. Morris, arising from the table.
“And if everything proves satisfactory, I shall be glad that I have found a housekeeper,” said Miss Elsworth.
A less courageous person might have been shocked at the idea of taking a stranger into her house, as Miss Elsworth took Mrs. Morris, but she knew enough of city life to know that there was no great safety in dealing with strangers. But Mrs. Morris had an honest look and a simple, honest way, and Miss Elsworth was very much in need of a housekeeper, and so she decided to accept Mrs. Morris on trial.
The people across the way wondered why it was so very quiet about the place opposite. They saw a beautiful young lady come and go, but they knew neither her name nor occupation. Indeed, she did not seem to have any, for she was seldom seen on the street, and when she was seen she was closely veiled, as one afraid of being recognized, and was always neatly, though plainly dressed. There was any amount of mail left at her door, which fact gave rise to much speculation by gossiping and curious neighbors. They thought it very strange that a handsome young woman, seemingly 158 without occupation, should live there with only a housekeeper. But they were none the wiser, when several months had elapsed and still she remained, coming and going in the same strange manner.
Mrs. Morris had proved herself a very trusty and efficient housekeeper, and though she was possessed of rather a peculiar disposition, she was never ill tempered.