and think what that meant to me. I was so young and ignorant that
such an idea as that I might one day have to earn my own living had
never entered my mind. I was fed and clothed like every one else,--
a good deal better, indeed, than some of the children at school,--
and I didn't know why it shouldn't always be so. Besides, I was a
vain child; I thought myself clever; I had even begun to look at
myself in the glass and think I was handsome. It seemed quite
natural that every one should be kind and indulgent to me. I shall
never forget the feeling I had when the landlady spoke to me in that
hard, sharp way. My whole idea of the world was overset all at once;
I seemed to be in a miserable dream. I sat in my mother's bedroom
hour after hour, and, every step I heard on the stairs, I thought it
must be my mother coming back home to me;--it was impossible to
believe that I was left alone, and could look to no one for help and
comfort."

"Next morning the landlady came up to me again, and said, if I
liked, she could tell me of a way of earning my living. It was by
going as a servant to an eating-house in a street close by, where
they wanted some one to wash up dishes and do different kinds of
work not too hard for a child like me. I could only do as I was
advised; I went at once, and was engaged. They took off the dress I
was wearing, which was far too good for me then, and gave me a
dirty, ragged one; then I was set to work at once to clean some
knives. Nothing was said about wages or anything of that kind; only
I understood that I should live in the house, and have all given me
that I needed. Of course I was very awkward. I tried my very hardest
to do everything that was set me, but only got scolding for my
pains; and it soon came to boxes on the ear, and even kicks. The
place was kept by a man and wife; they had a daughter older than I,