contrary, I was put into a dark room,
where I was kept a fortnight on bread and water; I did not much care,
however, being glad to have got back to the great house at any rate, the
place where I was born, and where my poor mother died; and in the great
house I continued two years longer, reading and sewing, fearing God, and
taking my own part when necessary. At the end of the two years I was
again put out to service, but this time to a rich farmer and his wife,
with whom, however, I did not live long,--less time, I believe, than with
the poor ones, being obliged to leave for--"

"Knocking your mistress down?"

"No, young man, knocking my master down, who conducted himself improperly
towards me. This time I did not go back to the great house, having a
misgiving that they would not receive me; so I turned my back to the
great house where I was born, and where my poor mother died, and wandered
for several days, I know not whither, supporting myself on a few
halfpence, which I chanced to have in my pocket. It happened one day, as
I sat under a hedge crying, having spent my last farthing, that a
comfortable-looking elderly woman came up in a cart, and seeing the state
in which I was, she stopped and asked what was the matter with me. I
told her some part of my story, whereupon she said, 'Cheer up, my dear:
if you like, you shall go with me, and wait upon me.' Of course I wanted
little persuasion, so I got into the cart and went with her. She took me
to London and various other places, and I soon found that she was a
travelling woman, who went about the country with silks and linen. I was
of great use to her, more especially in those places where we met evil
company. Once, as we were coming from Dover, we were met by two sailors,
who stopped our cart, and would have robbed and stripped us. 'Let me get
down,' said I; so I got down, and fought with them both, till they turned
round and ran away. Two years I lived with the old gentlewoman, who was
very kind to me, almost as kind as a mother; at last she fell sick at a
place in Lincolnshire, and after a few days died, leaving me her cart and
stock in trade, praying me only to see her decently buried, which I did,
giving her a funeral fit for a gentlewoman. After which I travelled the
country melancholy enough for want of company, but so far fortunate, that
I could take my own part when anybody was uncivil to me. At last,
passing through the valley of Todmorden, I form