und myself in the company of eight young damsels, very busy at
their needles, sitting on each side of a long table covered with
half-made dresses. I inquired of them whether my mother was at home,
and was answered by one, who was apparently the eldest, that she was
down below getting the breakfast ready.

"I suppose," continued she, "you are Mr Tom Saunders, the pilot?"

"I suppose I am," replied I; "and pray who are you?"

"I am Miss Amelia Gozlin, apprentice to Mrs Saunders, milliner,--at
your service, sir: and, in consequence of my being so very quiet and
sedate, I have charge of all these young ladies you see with me."

Here the others burst into a laugh.

"They are in very good hands, Miss Amelia," replied I, "and under your
care, and with your example, I have no doubt but they will turn out very
useful members of society."

"Thank you, sir; but allow me to say that I cannot permit young men,
especially such enchanting young men as Mr Tom Saunders, to remain
here; as, if I do, your amiable mother would give me what is genteelly
termed a wigging; so if you will be pleased, sir, just to remove
yourself from our presence," continued she, with a mock curtsey, "and
not make your appearance here again until you are certain your mother is
gone out, you will oblige us very much."

I obeyed the wishes of Miss Amelia Gozlin, who certainly was a very
handsome girl, with fine black eyes, apparently about fifteen years old.
I walked into the passage, and found my way down into the kitchen,
where my mother and Virginia were employed as they had told me above.
My mother received me kindly, but said little, for she appeared to be
fully occupied; and Virginia had no time to dedicate to me until the
breakfast was ready, when she called the apprentices, and we all sat
down together, Miss Amelia and her companions looking so demure, that,
if I had not seen them before, I should have thought that they could not
speak.

After breakfast was over Virginia showed me the house. The first floor
was to let furnished, the second was occupied by my mother and Virginia,
and the attics were appropriated to the apprentices. Everything
appeared clean, neat, and well arranged, and I could not imagine how my
mother had contrived to do so much with so little money; but Virginia
told me that she thought Mr Wilson had assisted her.

When I returned, which might have been in six months; I found a great
improvement, and every appearance of my