第66部分(第5/7 页)

　urged　to　weep；　but　conscious　how　unseasonable　such　a　manifestation　would　be；　I　restrained　it。　Soon　I　asked　her　“if　there　were　any　dressmaker　or　plain…workwoman　in　the　village？”

“Yes；　tany　as　there　was　employment　for。”

I　reflected。　I　was　driven　to　the　point　now。　I　was　brought　face　to　face　with　Necessity。　I　stood　in　the　position　of　one　without　a　resource；　without　a　friend；　without　a　coin。　I　must　do　something。　What？　I　must　apply　somewhere。　Where？

“Did　she　know　of　any　place　in　the　neighbourhood　where　a　servant　was　wanted？”

“Nay；　she　couldn’t　say。”

“What　was　the　chief　trade　in　this　place？　What　did　most　of　the　people　do？”

“Some　were　farm　labourers；　a　good　deal　worked　at　Mr。　Oliver’s　needle…factory；　and　at　the　foundry。”

“Did　Mr。　Oliver　employ　women？”

“Nay；　it　was　men’s　work。”

“And　what　do　the　women　do？”

“I　knawn’t；”　was　the　answer。　“Some　does　one　thing；　and　some　another。　Poor　folk　mun　get　on　as　they　can。”

She　seemed　to　be　tired　of　my　questions：　and；　indeed；　what　claim　had　I　to　importune　her？　A　neighbour　or　two　came　in；　my　chair　was　evidently　wanted。　I　took　leave。

I　passed　up　the　street；　looking　as　I　went　at　all　the　houses　to　the　right　hand　and　to　the　left；　but　I　could　discover　no　pretext；　nor　see　an　inducement　to　enter　any。　I　rambled　round　the　hamlet；　going　sometimes　to　a　little　distance　and　returning　again；　for　an　hour　or　more。　Much　exhausted；　and　suffering　greatly　now　for　want　of　food；　I　turned　aside　into　a　lane　and　sat　down　under　the　hedge。　Ere　many　minutes　had　elapsed；　I　was　again　on　my　feet；　however；　and　again　searching　something—a　resource；　or　at　least　an　informant。　A　pretty　little　house　stood　at　the　top　of　the　lane；　with　a　garden　before　it；　exquisitely　neat　and　brilliantly　blooming。　I　s