ebogwereremovedfromit;thecreasesleftbythewetsmoothedout:itwasquitedet.Myveryshoesandstogswerepurifiedandrenderedpresentable.Therewerethemeansofwashingintheroom,andabandbrushtosmoothmyhair.Afterarocess,aingeveryfiveminutes,Isucceededindressingmyself.Myclotheshunglooseonme;forIwasmuchwasted,butIcovereddeficieswithashawl,andoncemore,andrespectablelooking--nospeckofthedirt,notraceofthedisorderIsohated,andwhichseemedsotodegrademe,left--Icreptdownastoaircasewiththeaidofthebaoanarrowlowpassage,andfoundmyresentlytothekit.

    Itwasfullofthefragranewbreadandthewarmthofagenerousfire.Hannahwasbaking.Prejudices,itiswellknowdifficulttoeradicatefromtheheartwhosesoilhasneverbeenloosenedorfertilisedbyeducation:theygrowthere,firmasweedsamongstones.Hannahhadbeencoldandstiff,ithefirst:latterlyshehadbegualittle;andwhenshesawmeeintidyandwell-dressed,sheevensmiled.

    "What,youhavegotup!"shesaid."Youarebetter,then.Youmaysityoudowninmychaironthehearthstone,ifyouwill."

    Shepoiherog-chair:Itookit.Shebustledabout,examiningmeeverynowahtheerofhereye.Turningtome,asshetooksomeloavesfromtheoven,sheaskedbluntly-

    "Didyouevergoa-beggingaforeyoucamehere?"

    Iwasindignantforamoment;butrememberingthatangerwasoutofthequestion,andthatIhadindeedappearedasabeggartoher,Iansweredquietly,butstillnotwithoutacertainmarkedfirmness-

    "Youaremistakeninsupposingmeabeggar.Iamnobeggar;anymorethanyourselforyouryoungladies."

    Afterapauseshesaid,"Idunnutuandthat:you'velikenohouse,nornobrass,Ig