Mr. Clissold had not come so far without entering into conversation with the damsel. He had asked her a good many questions about the place, and the people to whom it belonged. But her answers were of the briefest, and she affected the profoundest ignorance about everything and everybody.
'You've not been here very long, I suppose, my girl,' he said at last, with some slight sense of irritation, 'or you'd know a little more about the place.'
'I haven't been here much above six months.'
'Oh! But your grandmother has lived here all her life, I dare say?'
'No, she hasn't. Grandmother came when I did.'
'And where did you both come from?'
'Foreign parts,' answered the girl.
'Indeed! you both speak very good English for people who come from abroad.'
'I didn't say we were foreigners, did I?' asked the girl, pertly. 'If you want to ask any more questions about the place or the people, you'd better ask 'em of the housekeeper, Mrs. Darvis; and if you want to see the house you must ask lief of her; and this is the door you'd better ring at, if you want to see her.'