ore I
could stir the insecure handle gave way, and no one more formidable
appeared than the landlady of the house, carrying before her a tray on
which was set out a sumptuous tea, consisting of buttered crumpets and
shrimps. She put it down on my dressing-table, and stood surveying it
and us with an expression of benign exultation, until she had recovered
her breath sufficiently to speak.

"Those as are going into foring parts," she said, "ought to get a good
English meal afore they start. If you was going to stay in England,
miss, it would be quite a differing thing; but me and my master don't
know what they may give you to eat where you're going to. Therefore we
beg you'll accept of the crumpets, and the shrimps, and the
bread-and-butter, and the tea, and every thing; and we mean no offence
by it. You've been a very quiet, regular lodger, and give no trouble;
and we're sorry to lose you. And this, my master says, is a testimonial
to you."

I could hardly control my laughter, and I could not keep back my tears.
It was a long time now since any one had shown me so much kindness and
sympathy as this. The dull face of the good woman was brightened by her
kind-hearted feeling, and instead of thanking her I put my lips to her
cheek.

"Lor!" she exclaimed, "why! God bless you, my dear! I didn't mean any
offence, you know. Lor! I never thought you'd pay me like that. It's
very pretty of you, it is; for I'm sure you're a lady to the backbone,
as often and often I've said to my master. Be good enough to eat it all,
you and the little miss, for you've a long journey before you. God bless
you both, my dears, and give you a good appetite!"

She backed out of the room as she was speaking, her face beaming upon us
to the last.

There was a pleasant drollery about her conduct, and about the intense
delight of the child, and her hearty enjoyment of the feast, which for
the time effectually dissipated my fears and my melancholy thoughts. It
was the last hour I should spend in my solitary room; my lonely days
were past. This little elf, with her large sharp eyes, and sagacious
womanly face, was to be my companion for the future. I felt closely
drawn to her. Even the hungry appetite with which she ate spoke of the
hard times she had gone through. When she had eaten all she could eat, I
heard her say softly to herself, "Courage, Minima!"

CHAPTER THE SEVENTH.

A LONG JOURNEY.

It as little more than twelve months since I