synopsis of it.

As far as she, Molly, knew, Hannah was what she had given herself
out to be, an uneducated girl of Irish extraction, who had come from
the country to act as lady's-maid and seamstress to the two Misses
Leavenworth. She had been in the family for some time; before Molly
herself, in fact; and though by nature remarkably reticent, refusing to
tell anything about herself or her past life, she had managed to become
a great favorite with all in the house. But she was of a melancholy
nature and fond of brooding, often getting up nights to sit and think
in the dark: "as if she was a lady!" exclaimed Molly.

This habit being a singular one for a girl in her station, an
attempt was made to win from the witness further particulars in regard
to it. But Molly, with a toss of her head, confined herself to the one
statement. She used to get up nights and sit in the window, and that
was all she knew about it.

Drawn away from this topic, during the consideration of which, a
little of the sharpness of Molly's disposition had asserted itself, she
went on to state, in connection with the events of the past night, that
Hannah had been ill for two days or more with a swelled face; that it
grew so bad after they had gone upstairs, the night before, that she
got out of bed, and dressing herself--Molly was closely questioned
here, but insisted upon the fact that Hannah had fully dressed herself,
even to arranging her collar and ribbon--lighted a candle, and made
known her intention of going down to Miss Eleanore for aid.

"Why Miss Eleanore?" a juryman here asked.