and soon after Mr. Smith
knocked at the door. As soon as he came in his wife began scolding him
for spending his time and money at a public-house, and said that he
would bring them all to the workhouse. He retorted by saying that she
lost more money at cards than he spent at the public-house. They then
quarrelled violently. Blows were given on both sides, when Mr. Smith,
happening to see me, told me to be gone to bed, or he would knock me
down. I did not require to be told twice, but, hastening from the room,
groped my way upstairs (for I was not allowed any candle), where,
rejoiced at having escaped from the confusion below, I wrapped the
blanket round me, and, laying myself upon the heap of rubbish, soon fell
asleep.

The two succeeding days passed nearly as the one I have described. Then
came Sunday, which, instead of being a day of rest, of worship of the
great Giver of all good, and a day of innocent recreation, was, in this
misguided family, a day of complete slavery, for I found that it was the
only one in the whole week that was devoted to domestic business. The
whole house was to be cleaned. The dishes, plates, and saucepans, which
had been used over and over again without washing during the week, were
now all to be washed. The knives were to be cleaned, the boots and shoes
to be brushed and blacked, and all this it was expected I should do. I
did the best I could, and kept on working from six o'clock in the
morning till nine o'clock at night, without sitting down the whole time,
except the few minutes when I took my three scanty meals; but now,
overpowered with fatigue, I fainted away upon the floor.

I believe I continued insensible for rather a long time, for, when I
began to recover my hearing, I heard Mrs. Smith and the sister talking
together very earnestly, and as if they were fearful of getting into
trouble on my account. They were sprinkling me with water, and holding
hartshorn for me to smell, at the same time conversing in the following
manner:

'I wish we had not taken this girl,' said Mrs. Smith. 'She has not
strength to do our work. We cannot afford to keep her for nothing; and
yet, if she dies, people will say that we killed her. How white she
looks! I am afraid that she really is dead.'

'Pour a little gin-and-water down her throat,' said the sister. 'If she
has life in her, that will bring her to; and, to tell you my opinion of
the matter, I think you half starve her, and overwork her besid