er away.' Mrs Pipkin expressed her opinion
that Ruby was a 'baggage' and John Crumb a 'soft.' Mrs Pipkin was
perhaps a little jealous at the interest which her lodger took in her
niece, thinking perhaps that all Mrs Hurtle's sympathies were due to
herself.

Ruby went hither and thither for a day or two, calling upon the
mothers of children who wanted nursemaids. The answers which she had
received had not come from the highest members of the aristocracy,
and the houses which she visited did not appal her by their splendour.
Many objections were made to her. A character from an aunt was
objectionable. Her ringlets were objectionable. She was a deal too
flighty-looking. She spoke up much too free. At last one happy mother
of five children offered to take her on approval for a month, at L12
a year, Ruby to find her own tea and wash for herself. This was
slavery;--abject slavery. And she too, who had been the beloved of a
baronet, and who might even now be the mistress of a better house than
that into which she was to go as a servant,--if she would only hold
up her finger! But the place was accepted, and with broken-hearted
sobbings Ruby prepared herself for her departure from Aunt Pipkin's
roof.

'I hope you like your place, Ruby,' Mrs Hurtle said on the afternoon
of her last day.

'Indeed then I don't like it at all. They're the ugliest children you
ever see, Mrs Hurtle.'

'Ugly children must be minded as well as pretty ones.'

'And the mother of 'em is as cross as cross.'

'It's your own fault, Ruby; isn't it?'

'I don't know as I've done anything out of the way.'

'Don't you think it's anything out of the way to be engaged to a young
man and then to throw him over? All this has come because you wouldn't
keep your word to Mr Crumb. Only for that your grandfather wouldn't
have turned you out of his house.'

'He didn't turn me out. I ran away. And it wasn't along of John Crumb,
but because grandfather hauled me about by the hair of my head.'

'But he was angry with you about Mr Crumb. When a young woman becomes
engaged to a young man, she ought not to go back from her word.' No
doubt Mrs Hurtle, when preaching this doctrine, thought that the same
law might be laid down with propriety for the conduct of young men.
'Of course you have brought trouble on yourself. I am sorry you don't
like the place. I'm afraid you must go to it now.'

'I am agoing,--I suppose,' said Ruby, probably feeling that if she
could but