n a ridge, and at the back
of it a dozen double flights of stairs dived into courts and cellars far
below the level of the front. It was by these--a journey in themselves--
that Kirstie sometimes made exit and entrance when she had business at the
shops, and she has counted up to me a list, which seemed without end, of
the offices, workshops, and tenements she passed on her way, beginning
with a wine store in the basement, mounting to _perruquiers'_ and
law-stationers' shops, and so up past bookbinders', felt-maker's,
painters', die-sinkers', milliners' workrooms, to landings on which, as
the roof was neared, the tenants herded closer and yet closer in meaner
and yet meaner poverty.

The most of Kirstie's business was with Mr. John Seton, the agent, to whom
she carried the thread spun by her mistress in the attic, and from whom
she received the moneys and accounts of profits. Once or twice, at their
first coming, Mrs. Johnstone had descended for a walk in the streets; but
by this time the unhappy lady had it fixed in her mind that she was being
watched and followed, and shook with apprehension at every corner.
So pitiable indeed were the glances she flung behind her, and so frantic
the precautions she used to shake off her supposed pursuers and return by
circuitous ways, that Kirstie pressed her to no more such expeditions.

To the girl, still ignorant of the cause of this terror, her mistress was
evidently mad. But mad or no, she grew daily weaker in health and her
handiwork began to worsen in quality, until Kirstie was forced to use
deceit and sell only her own thread to Mr. Seton, though she pretended to
dispose of Mrs. Johnstone's, and accounted for the falling off in profit
by a feigned tale of brisker competition among their Dutch rivals--an
imposture in which the agent helped her, telling the same story in
writing; for Mrs. Johnstone, whose eye for a bargain continued as sharp as
ever, had actually begun to suspect the lass of robbing her.

About this time as Kirstie passed down the stairs she took notice that a
new tradesman had set up business on the landing below. At first she
wondered that a barber--for this was his trade--should task his customers
to climb so many flights from the street; but it seemed that the fellow
knew what he was about, for after the first week she never descended
without meeting a customer or two mounting to his door or being followed
down by one with his wig powdered and chin fre