mind at other times, suddenly remembered now that they were dependent
upon the resources of the new country for domestic service, and that
she had heard that no chance of securing a good servant must be lost, as
they were very rare. Stating her thought hastily to Sophia, and darting
to the narrow door without waiting for a reply, she stretched out her
head with an ebullition of registry-office questions.

"My good girl!" she cried, "my good girl!"

The girl came back nearer the door and stood still.

"Do you happen to know of a girl about your age who can do kitchen
work?"

"I don't know any one here. I'm travelling."

"But perhaps you would do for me yourself"--this half aside--"Can you
make a fire, keep pots clean, and scour floors?"

"Yes." She did not express any interest in her assent.

"Where are you going? Would you not like to come with me and enter my
service? I happen to be in need of just such a girl as you."

No answer.

"She doesn't understand, mamma," whispered the grey-eyed girl in a short
frock, who, having wedged herself beside her mother in the narrow
doorway, was the only one who could see or hear the colloquy. "Speak
slower to the poor thing."