"I know plenty about sewing, sir."
"Ah, you've perhaps been engaged in that sort of work?"
"Yes, sir."
He looked at her curiously, tapping his boot with the ash stick which he carried in his hand, and obviously disliking to put personal questions to her. The young woman, however, found courage to relieve his embarrassment.
"I was engaged in the dressmaking business at Clothford," she said, "but my mistress failed in business, and I could not find another situation there. I heard of a place here at Sicaster, so I walked over to apply for it to-day, but it was filled up when I got here."
"You walked over from Clothford? That's a long distance on such a nasty day. Why didn't you take the train?"
"Because I couldn't afford it, sir."
"I see—I see. I'm sorry I asked that—I didn't think what I was saying. Now about
