all the morning at machines
turning round,' announced Horatia.

'And whatever you can find to please you in that passes me. Sykes says
those woollen-mills are all one like another, and hot, dirty, greasy
places!' declared Nancy.

'I believe you've fallen in love with Sykes,' said Horatia wickedly.

'Miss Horatia! Considering he's got a wife and family!' protested Nancy.
But she quoted Sykes no more, which was just what Horatia wanted and
expected.

'Now, Nanny, I'm quite all right, so you can get out my white muslin and
blue ribbon,' she said.

'Not that white muslin, miss! You've worn it three times, and it is so
plain compared with Miss Clay's,' objected the woman.

'So am I, so it's no good my trying to dress like her, and it's no use
your getting angry about it, and arguing, because you know she's
beautiful and I'm plain. And what's funnier still, I don't envy her a
bit--oh, I don't mean her wealth, but I mean her face and figure--for she
isn't a bit happy, and she doesn't enjoy life, and I do most awfully.'

'Because you try to make other people enjoy it, and you know the way to
win people's hearts. Why, the way you've won Mr Clay's'---- Here Nancy
paused.

'As Sykes says,' added Horatia slyly.

'Well, Miss Horatia, you will have your joke; and if I was going to say
that it's no wonder, seeing that I have to sit at his right hand, as the
place of honour, at the servants' hall dinner. And, oh, miss, if you did
but see our table! Well, we live well at his Grace's; but here! You never
saw such food--seven and eight courses we have, and fruit and wines. I'm
sure I don't know how much they cost.'

'You'll be wanting to stay up here, Nanny; you will never be contented
with our plain food after all these luxuries,' suggested Horatia.

Nancy gave a scornful sniff. 'I suppose that is a joke, Miss Horatia; but
it's a poor one. For if it were this house or the Union I'd not hesitate
between them.'

'Is that a joke, or do you expect me to believe you'd rather live in the
workhouse than this place?' inquired Horatia.

'It's no joke. Nothing would induce me to live here,' said Nancy.

'I wonder why,' said Horatia meditatively. It was just what Sarah said,
she remembered.

'It's not half so wonderful as the way you seem to have taken to these
people,' said Nancy; and then, feeling that she had gone too far, and
that Horatia thought so, she changed the conversation and spoke of the
dirt of Ousebank, which actua