ory girls who were
passing her stall and stopped. They were gaily dressed, a light
handkerchief tied under the chin, their hair scrupulously arranged; they
wore coral neck-laces and earrings of gold.

"Ah! is it you, my child," said the widow, who was a good-hearted
creature. "The dandy has been giving me some of his imperence."

"But I meant nothing, dame," said Mick. "It was a joke,--only a joke."

"Well, let it pass," said Mrs Carey. "And where have you been this long
time, my child; and who's your friend?" she added in a lower tone.

"Well, I have left Mr Trafford's mill," said the girl.

"That's a bad job," said Mrs Carey; "for those Traffords are kind to
their people. It's a great thing for a young person to be in their
mill."

"So it is," said the girl, "but then it was so dull. I can't stand a
country life, Mrs Carey. I must have company."

"Well, I do love a bit of gossip myself," said Mrs Carey, with great
frankness.

"And then I'm no scholar," said the girl, "and never could take to
learning. And those Traffords had so many schools."

"Learning is better than house and land," said Mrs Carey; "though I'm
no scholar myself; but then, in my time, things was different. But young
persons--"

"Yes," said Mick; "I don't think I could get through the day, if it
wurno' for our Institute."

"And what's that?" asked Mrs Carey with a sneer.

"The Shoddy-Court Literary and Scientific, to be sure," said Mick; "we
have got fifty members, and take in three London papers; one 'Northern
Star' and two 'Moral Worlds.'"

"And where are you now, child?" continued the widow to the girl.

"I am at Wiggins and Webster's," said the girl; "and this is my partner.
We keep house together; we have a very nice room in Arbour Court, No.
7, high up; it's very airy. If you will take a dish of tea with us
to-morrow, we expect some friends."

"I take it kindly," said Mrs Carey; "and so you keep house together! All
the children keep house in these days. Times is changed indeed!"

"And we shall be happy to see you, Mick; and Julia, if you are not
engaged;" continued the girl; and she looked at her friend, a pretty
demure girl, who immediately said, but in a somewhat faultering tone,
"Oh! that we shall."

"And what are you going to do now, Caroline?" said Mick.

"Well, we had no thoughts; but I said to Harriet, as it is a fine night,
let us walk about as long as we can and then to-morrow we will lie in
bed till afternoon."