have
her as an apprentice till we know what she can do.'

They then went away, and, in about two hours, the one that I called the
good-natured overseer came to tell Mrs. Dawson to have me in readiness
to go to London on the morning after the morrow with my new master and
mistress.

'And I hope, child,' said he, addressing me, 'that you will do all you
can to please them, for I give you my word for it, that if you are sent
back to us we shall send you to the Bridewell, where you will be kept to
hard labour, and be whipped every day; so now you know what you have to
trust to.'

I assured him very sincerely that I would do to the utmost of my power
to please my master and mistress; and then I very humbly entreated his
permission to allow me to go the next day to pay a farewell visit to Mr.
Sanders and my nurse, Jenkins.

'Yes, child, you shall go. And mind, Dawson, that you let her go early,
that she may find Mr. Sanders at home, for he made me promise that we
would not send her away without first letting her call upon him.
Good-bye, child, there is a penny for you to spend, and if you are a
good girl you shall have a shilling for yourself when you are bound
apprentice.'

I curtsied, thanked him, and renewed my promises of good behaviour. He
then went away, and Mrs. Dawson told me to sit down to my work, for that
too much time had been lost in talking.

Chapter III

The next morning I arose before it was well light. It was a cold morning
in the month of February, and the snow was lying upon the ground; but my
heart felt so light at the thought of escaping from the ill-temper of
Mrs. Dawson, and the hope of being more comfortable, that everything
appeared cheerful and pleasant. I made what haste I could to get my
morning work done, and, having breakfasted, set off about nine o'clock
on my little journey. The distance from the workhouse to Mr. Sanders's
was rather more than two miles; but the sun was now shining, and the
road hard and dry, and I tripped along so lightly that I was therein a
little more than half an hour.

'Good-morning to you, my dear,' said the kind gentleman when he saw me;
'you seem in excellent spirits. Have you got a place?'

'Yes, sir,' I replied. 'I am to go to London to-morrow, and then, I
hope, I shall find my father soon.'

'My poor child, I wish you may,' answered he; 'but do not raise your
expectations too high, for fear you should be disappointed. What sort of
people are you to b