tureonthewall,whenthedooropened,andanindividualcarryingalightentered;anotherfollowedclosebehind.

    Thefirstwasatallladywithdarkhair,darkeyes,andapaleandlargeforehead;herfigureartlyenvelopedinashawl,hertenancewasgrave,herbeari.

    “Thechildisveryyoungtobesentalone,”saidshe,puttingherdledownoable.Shesideredmeattentivelyforamiwo,thenfurtheradded—

    “Shehadbetterbeputtobedsoon;shelookstired:areyoutired?”sheasked,plagherhandonmyshoulder.

    “Alittle,ma’am.”

    “Andhungrytoo,nodoubt:letherhavesomesupperbeforeshegoestobed,MissMiller.Isthisthefirsttimeyouhaveleftyourparentstoetosylittlegirl?”

    IexplaioherthatIhadnoparents.SheinquiredhowlongtheyhadbeehenhowoldIasmyname,whetherIcouldread,write,andsewalittle:theouchedmycheekgentlywithherforefinger,andsaying,“ShehopedIshouldbeagoodchild,”dismissedmealongwithMissMiller.

    TheladyIhadleftmightbeabouttwenty-heoneithmeappearedsomeyearsyouhefirstimpressedmebyhervoice,look,andair.MissMillerwasmoreordinary;ruddyinplexion,thoughofacareworntenance;hurriedingaitanda,likeonewhohadalwaysamultiplicityoftasksonhand:shelooked,indeed,whatIafterwardsfoundshereallywas,aeacher.Ledbyher,Ipassedfrompartmenttopartment,frompassagetopassage,ofalargeandirregularbuilding;till,emergingfromthetotalandsomewhatdrearysilencepervadingthatportionofthehousewehadtraversed,onthehumofmanyvoices,alyenteredawide,longroom,withgreatdealtables,twoatead,oneachofwhichburntapairofdles,aedallroundonbenches,agregationofgirlsofeveryage,fromentotwenty.S