other's death, as I was seven years at
E----, I must have been twelve years old the November before I went to
the Smiths, thirteen last November, when I ran away from them; and
should be fourteen next November. It was now the beginning of September.
This point being settled, they began talking of other things, told me
what a pleasant life I should lead with them, that all my employment
would be to carry a light band-box during the days, and in the evenings,
when they arrived at the inn where they were to pass the night, to work
at my needle. To this I had no objection, and began to think I should
not be so unhappy as I had at first supposed; but the idea of their
stealing still predominated in my mind, though I could not imagine how
they could do it, as the goods they carried were their own, and they
could not rob themselves, and I was at a loss to think how they could
commit theft. Simpleton that I was, I never thought that they could rob
other people.

As we proceeded, they told me the names of the different places we
passed through. They stopped at all the genteel houses, and many of the
farmhouses, to ask them if they wanted any goods. Several bought a good
many things of them; others would scarcely give them an answer, but
almost shut their doors in our faces. Thus passed away several hours.
The shades of evening were beginning to fall, and I was very weary with
walking so much, when we entered a large town, where they told me we
should pass the night. We went to a small inn, which they said was the
house where they always slept when they came to this town. We were shown
to a room that they called their own, as it was kept entirely for their
use. Mrs. Sharpley ordered tea, and her husband said to her:

'Come, my dear, we must see if we have a remnant of some stuff to make a
dress for Lady Anne. She is very well dressed for a gardener's girl, but
not smart enough for us.'

The pack was then opened, and they picked out the remains of a piece of
very pretty slate-coloured stuff sufficiently large to make me a dress.

'Now,' said Mrs. Sharpley, 'after tea we must stitch away, for your
dress must be made this night before you go to bed.'

The tea was soon brought in, and we all sat down to it with a good
appetite, for it was now past seven o'clock, and we had not tasted
anything but a little porter since we dined, which was between twelve
and one o'clock. After tea Mr. Sharpley went out. His wife very
expeditiously