market-square, where she had left the pony and cart.

The farmer's wife to whom Anne had arranged to carry the plums was known
among her acquaintances as a "worry." She had two daughters, one of whom
was delicate, and the farm was neither large nor productive. Her husband
also was reputed to be stingy.

Anne found her sitting sewing with the two girls, who were making a rag
hearthrug. With the nervousness of women of anxious temperaments she
began to explain their occupation, talking quickly in a voice with a
shrill recurring note.

"There's no waste in this house you see, Anne, and no drones in the
'ive. This bit of stuff was my grandmother's." She took up a fragment of
striped linsey, which one of the girls had just laid her hands upon. The
girl's sulky expression did not escape her.

"_Now_ then, what's the matter? _You're_ too proud, Miss. Keep a thing
seven years and it's sure to come in, _I_ say, and keep girls working,
and then they'll not get into trouble. Did you ever hear of anything so
disgraceful as that Jane Evans? She ought to be sent out of the place
with her servant and all. If it was a daughter o' mine, she'd travel far
enough before she saw her home again."

"It's very sad," replied Anne, "She's been led astray;" but the woman
interrupted, full of her virtue.

"Astray! She didn't want much leading I should think, sly thing! I know
those quiet ones. They're generally pretty deep. No! I've no
consideration whatever for a girl who gets herself into trouble. She's