at you right.
He knows all about your trouble and is sorry for you."

If Holcroft had been an ogre in appearance, he would have received the
grateful glance which she now gave him as she said, "I'd be only too
glad to work for you, sir, if you think I can do, or learn to do, what
is required."

Holcroft, while his friend was speaking, had studied closely Alida's
thin, pale face, and he saw nothing in it not in harmony with the story
he had heard. "I am sorry for you," he said kindly. "I believe you
never meant to do wrong and have tried to do right. I will be
perfectly honest with you. My wife is dead, the help I had has left
me, and I live alone in the house. The truth is, too, that I could not
afford to keep two in help, and there would not be work for them both."

Alida had learned much in her terrible adversity, and had, moreover the
instincts of a class superior to the position she was asked to take.
She bowed low to hide the burning flush that crimsoned her pale cheeks
as she faltered, "It may seem strange to you, sirs, that one situated
as I am should hesitate, but I have never knowingly done anything which
gave people the right to speak against me. I do not fear work, I would
humbly try to do my best, but--" She hesitated and rose as if to retire.

"I understand you," said Holcroft kindly, "and I don't blame you for
doing what you think is right."

"I'm very sorry, sir," she replied, tears coming into her eyes as she
went out of the room.

"There it is, Holcroft," said Tom. "I believe she's just the one for
you, but you can see she isn't of the common kind. She knows as well
as you and me how people would talk, especially if her story came out,
as like enough it will."

"Hang people!" snarled the farmer.

"Yes, a good lot of 'em deserve hanging, but it wouldn't help you any
just now. Perhaps she'd go with you if you got another girl or took an
old woman from the house here to keep her company."

"I'm sick to death of such hags," said the farmer with an impatient
gesture. Then he sat down and looked at his friend as if a plan was
forming in his mind of which he scarcely dare speak.

"Well, out with it!" said Tom.

"Have you ever seen a marriage ceremony performed by a justice of the
peace?" Holcroft asked slowly.

"No, but they do it often enough. What! Are you going to offer her
marriage?"

"You say she is homeless and friendless?'

"Yes."

"And you believe she is just what she seems-