The gentleman put a guinea into the good natured basket-woman’s hand, and told her that he knew she could not afford to teach them her trade for nothing. “I shall come through Dunstable again in a few months,” added he; “and I hope to see that you and your scholars are going on well. If I find that they are, I will do something more for you.”
“But,” said Anne, “we must tell all this to grandmother, and ask her about it; and I’m afraid—though I’m very happy—that it is getting very late, and that we should not stay here any longer.”
“It is a fine moonlight night,” said the basket-woman; “and is not far. I’ll walk with you, and see you safe home myself.”
The gentleman detained them a few minutes longer, till a messenger whom he had dispatched to purchase the much wished for blanket returned.
“Your grandmother will sleep well upon this good blanket, I hope,” said the gentleman, as he gave it into Paul’s opened arms. “It has been obtained for her by the honesty of her adopted children.”
FOOTNOTES
[2] A hard-hearted man.
[5] “The proper species of rush,” says White, in his ‘Natural History of Selborne,’ “seems to be the Juncus effusus, or common soft rush, which is to be found in moist pastures, by the sides of streams, and under hedges. These rushes are in best condition in the height of summer, but may be gathered so as to serve the purpose well quite on to autumn. The largest and longest are the best. Decayed labourers, women, and children make it their business to procure and prepare them. As soon as they are cut, they must be flung into water, and kept there; for otherwise they will dry and shrink, and the peel will not run. When these junci are thus far prepared, they must lie out on the grass to be bleached and take the dew for some nights, and afterwards be dried in the sun. Some address is required in dipping these rushes in the scalding fat or grease; but this knack is also to be attained by practice. A pound of common grease may be procured for fourpence, and about six pounds of grease will dip a pound of rushes and one pound of rushes may be bought for one shilling; so that a pound of rushes, medicated and ready for use, will cost three shillings.”
[7] The author has seen a pair of shoes, such as here described, made in a few hours.
[12a] Goody is not a word used in Ireland. Collyogh is the Irish appellation of an old woman: but as Collyogh might sound strangely to English ears, we have translated it by the word Goody.