y. 'My sister
and me saw you in church to-day. We said you were the new family; and
Deb is very good at upholsterin' and alterin' carpets, and doin' plain
needlework, and we thought maybe you'd be wantin' help that way, for
Deb goes to work by the day at most of the big houses round!'

'Tis the Lord's Day,' said Deb, giving her sister a sharp nudge with
her elbow; 'we'll not be talking business now. Sit down, ladies.'

Gwen and Elfie exchanged amused glances. Then Gwen said,--

'Well, we won't transact business now; but we want a workwoman badly,
and if you will come to the cottage tomorrow my sister will show you
any amount of carpets that need refitting. But if I had a cottage like
this, away from all sound and sight of any human beings, I think I
wouldn't trouble to go out carpet-making!'

'You would if you wanted to keep your cottage,' said Deb brusquely.
Then, taking off her sun-bonnet and smoothing down her grey hair, she
sat down on an old oak settle beside the little cheery blazing fire,
and grasping her angular knees with each hand, she looked at Given a
little defiantly.

'Eight and forty year come next Christmas have Patty and I lived
together here, and never a year have we been behind our rent since
father died; but it have been done by downright hard labour. And if
you and your people want new-laid eggs, or fresh spring chickens, or
honey from the comb, why, 'tis Patty that will supply you, as also milk
and butter from an Alderney cow.'

''Tis Sunday!' ejaculated Patty, as she stood by the fire with arms
akimbo; and at this retort Gwen and Elfie laughed outright.

'And do you ever go away from home?' asked Gwen curiously, after a
slight pause, in which Deb looked very discomposed.

'We are continually away,' said Deb, looking up and speaking very
shortly. 'I know every gentry's house in the neighbourhood, not to
speak of Brambleton, where Patty goes reg'lar once a week to market.
But as to sleepin' away, that we never mean to do till we be taken to
our last restin'-place!'

'And are you great readers? I am afraid we disturbed you from your
books when we came in.'

Patty took up her book, which was on the window-ledge. ''Tis Bunyan's
book, _The Pilgrim's Progress_. Father give Deb and me a copy each
when we were fifteen years old, and we have read it every Sunday
afternoon since. We don't always get very far, for 'tis a sleepy time
in the afternoon, but a page or two is always edifyin'