"Can I go now?" she asked after a moment.

"Not yet. I want to ask you some questions. Was anyone ever kind to you?"

"I dunno. I suppose so."

"What would you call being kind to you?"

"Not scoldin' or cuffin' me."

"If I didn't scold or strike you, would you think I was kind, then?"

She nodded; but after a moment's thought, said, "and if you didn't look as if
you hated to see me round."

"Do you think I've been kind to you?"

"Kinder'n anybody else. You sorter look at me sometimes as if I was a rat. I
don't s'pose you can help it, and I don't mind. I'd ruther stay here and work
than go a-visitin' again. Why can't I work outdoors when there's nothin' for
me to do in the house?"

"Are you willing to work--to do anything you can?"

Jane was not sufficiently politic to enlarge on her desire for honest toil and
honest bread; she merely nodded. Holcroft smiled as he asked, "Why are you so
anxious to work?"

"'Cause I won't feel like a stray cat in the house then. I want to be