not, but the certainty that I was so made me
weep bitterly. Calming my agitation as much as I was able, I promised to
be diligent in their business, and to obey them in everything that I
could. They both laughed, and said I was terribly afraid they should
want me to steal. Mrs. Sharpley then showed me to a bed in a closet
adjoining their room, and the oblivion of sleep soon made me forget all
that had passed the preceding day.

The next morning we breakfasted early, and then left the inn. In going
through the town Mrs. Sharpley went into a shop, where she bought me a
very pretty straw hat trimmed with blue ribbons. My dress was now
completely different to what it had been the day before, I now having a
new hat, new dress, and a pretty silk handkerchief pinned over my
shoulders. The purchase being made, my old bonnet was thrown down in the
street, for the benefit of whoever chose to pick it up. We then
proceeded on our way, and soon left the town. This day was passed nearly
as the former one had been, some people buying, and others not even
looking at the goods. In the evening when we arrived at our inn, Mr.
Sharpley went out while the tea was being prepared, and returned in
little more than half an hour. We then had tea, after which he went out
again. Mrs. Sharpley then employed herself in making caps and frills to
sell, and I passed the evening in putting the trimming on to my dress. I
now began to feel more reconciled to my new mode of life. Mr. and Mrs.
Sharpley were good-natured, and certainly treated me with kindness, and
I thought, if they did not want me to steal, I might be very comfortable
with them. The week passed away. Saturday night came, and they gave me
sixpence, telling me they should give me as much every week, so long as
I continued to behave well. Weeks thus passed on. Our days were employed
in walking from place to place, endeavouring to sell the goods, and our
evenings in making up caps, frills, etc., for sale, and I soon became so
expert in making them that they increased my weekly money from sixpence
to a shilling. This money was in reality but of very little use to
myself, for, as I had everything provided for me, I did not want it on
my own account; but, then, it was a source of very great pleasure to
me, as it enabled me to relieve the distress of many poor objects that
I met upon the road, whose pale faces told, without their speaking it,
that they were in want of bread.

Mr. Sharpley did no