aved over the top. I remember the
assistants standing round, and me ever so solemn with the penny
grandfather gave me to hold while it was being done... But he always took
the penny back afterwards. Poor grandfather! Wild, he was, at the fright
I'd made of myself. But he frightened me that time. Do you know what
I did, madam? I ran away. Yes, I did, round the corners, in and out, I
don't know how far I didn't run. Oh, dear, I must have looked a sight,
with my hand rolled up in my pinny and my hair sticking out. People must
have laughed when they saw me...

... No, madam, grandfather never got over it. He couldn't bear the sight
of me after. Couldn't eat his dinner, even, if I was there. So my aunt
took me. She was a cripple, an upholstress. Tiny! She had to stand on
the sofas when she wanted to cut out the backs. And it was helping her I
met my lady...

... Not so very, madam. I was thirteen, turned. And I don't remember ever
feeling--well--a child, as you might say. You see there was my uniform,
and one thing and another. My lady put me into collars and cuffs from
the first. Oh yes--once I did! That was--funny! It was like this. My
lady had her two little nieces staying with her--we were at Sheldon at
the time--and there was a fair on the common.

"Now, Ellen," she said, "I want you to take the two young ladies for a
ride on the donkeys." Off we went; solemn little loves they were; each
had a hand. But when we came to the donkeys they were too shy to go on.
So we stood and watched instead. Beautiful those donkeys were! They were
the first I'd seen out of a cart--for pleasure as you might say. They
were a lovely silver-grey, with little red saddles and blue bridles and
bells jing-a-jingling on their ears. And quite big girls--older than me,
even--were riding them, ever so gay. Not at all common, I don't mean,
madam, just enjoying themselves. And I don't know what it was, but
the way the little feet went, and the eyes--so gentle--and the soft
ears--made me want to go on a donkey more than anything in the world!

... Of course, I couldn't. I had my young ladies. And what would I have
looked like perched up there in my uniform? But all the rest of the day
it was donkeys--donkeys on the brain with me. I felt I should have burst
if I didn't tell some one; and who was there to tell? But when I went to
bed--I was sleeping in Mrs. James's bedroom, our cook that was, at
the time--as soon as the lights was out, there they were