“I’m surprised you wan’t ashamed to carry such a big parcel,” she said admiringly.

“It did not occur to me to be ashamed.”

“One never knows who they may meet though.”

“It was nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I s’pose not; but quality has such queer notions.”

“I do not wish to be quality if that is the case; I want to be a sensible woman, and a useful one,” I said, as I proceeded to wind my yarn from Mrs. Blake’s outstretched arms.  In a short time I had the pleasure of seeing a pretty little sock evolving itself out of the long strand of yarn.  Mrs. Blake finding me anxious to be helpful to her poor neighbors, began unfolding histories from time to time, as I sat in her tidy kitchen, that to me seemed to rise to the dignity of tragedies.  Sometimes I begged to accompany her to these sorrowful homes.  The patience under overwhelming sorrow that I saw at times, gave me new glimpses into the possibilities of human endurance, and my sympathies were so wrought upon, I set about trying to earn money myself to help alleviate their wants, while a new field of work stretched out before me in bewildering perspective; and sometimes I wished I too had a hundred hands, like a second Briareus, that I might manufacture garments for half-clad women and children.

CHAPTER VI.

Mr. Winthrop.

That evening, my first knitting lesson ended, on returning to Oaklands a surprise awaited me.  As I was walking briskly up the avenue towards the house I met Hubert with Faery coming to bring me home.

“Mr. Winthrop has come, and is inquiring very particularly where you are in hiding, and I believe my poor mother is afraid of telling him an untruth, for she hurried me off very unceremoniously after you,” Hubert said, as he reined up Faery for a moment’s conversation.

“You need have no fears for her; she would go to the stake rather than tell a lie.”

“Or betray a friend,” Hubert said, with a meaning smile.  “Remember Mr. Winthrop is very fastidious about his associates.  Your friend Mrs. Blake, in his eyes, has only a bare right to exist; to presume on his friendship, or that of his ward, would be an unpardonable sin.”

“I must hasten to your mother’s relief,” I said, with a little scoffing laugh.  I paid very little heed just then to Hubert’s remarks—­later I found he had not greatly overstated my guardian’s exclusiveness.  Wishing to gain my room and make some additions to my toilet before meeting Mr. Winthrop, I chose a side entrance, taking a circuitous path through the shrubbery, if possible to reach the house unseen.