At last, concluding there would be no impropriety in making the first advances herself, she said timidly, “Is it such a very bad place at the poor-house?”

“Why, no, not so dreadful.  There’s places enough, sight worse, and then agin there’s them, a good deal better But you needn’t be afeard.  They’ll take good care of you.”

“I wasn’t thinking of myself,” said Mary.

“Who was you thinkin’ of, then?”

“Of Alice; she’s always been sick and is not used to strangers, and among so many I am afraid she will be frightened.”

“Oh, she’ll soon get used to ’em.  Nothin’ like, habit.  Weakly, is she?  Wall, the poor-house ain’t much of a place to get well in, that’s a fact.  But she’d be better off to die and go to her mother, and then you could get a good place at some farmer’s.”

Mary wondered how he could speak thus carelessly of what would cause her so much sorrow.  Gently lifting the old faded shawl, she looked down upon Alice as she slept.  There was a smile upon her face.  She was dreaming, and as her lips moved, Mary caught the word, “Ma,” which the child had applied indiscriminately both to herself and her mother.  Instantly the tears gushed forth, and falling upon the baby’s face awoke her.  Her nap was not half out, and setting up a loud cry, she continued screaming until they drove up to the very door of the poor-house.

“For the land’s sake,” said Mr. Knight, as he helped Mary from the wagon, “what a racket; can’t you contrive to stop it? you’ll have Sal Furbush in your hair, for she don’t like a noise.”

Mary glanced nervously round in quest of the goblin Sal, but she saw nothing save an idiotic face with bushy tangled hair; and nose flattened against the window pane.  In terror Mary clung to Mr. Knight, and whispered, as she pointed towards the figure, which was now laughing hideously, “What is it?  Are there many such here?”

“Don’t be afeard,” said Mr. Knight, “that’s nobody but foolish Patsy; she never hurt any body in her life.  Come, now, let me show you to the overseer.”

Mary looked towards the woods which skirted the borders of the meadow opposite, and for half a moment felt inclined to flee thither, and hide herself in the bushes; but Mr. Knight’s hand was upon her shoulder, and he led her towards a red-whiskered man, who stood in the door.

“Here, Parker,” said he, “I’ve brought them children I was tellin’ you about.  You’ve room for ’em, I s’pose.”

“Why, ye-es, we can work it so’s to make room.  Guess we shall have rain to-morrow.”