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 inquisitiveness in the girl's manner. She replied that she was going to service at Mr. Hepworth's, as the girl supposed.

"And a rare good master he is," said the girl, with emphasis. "I should ha' liked to stay there, but he had one servant already, old Mally, and besides, I had a bad illness. I expect you'll be going as a sort o' parlour maid—he's a very gentleman-like sort o' man, is Mr. Hepworth, and likes things doing right. He's a religious man, too: he preaches at the Chapel sometimes. He was very good to me when I was badly—used to read to me for an hour at a time, and buy me things to do me good. I don't think nobody could find a better place than that. I'm stopping again in my present place, and I wish I wasn't."

Elisabeth heard this news with considerable satisfaction, and was not averse to hearing more. But as it was by that time drawing near to six o'clock, and as she had yet to enquire her way to the Elephant Hotel, she said good-afternoon and went away.