After shaking her head a little over the degeneracy of the times, Sally returned to a part of the subject on which she thought she had given Ruth a wrong idea.  “You’ll not go for to think now that I’ve not more than three pound a year.  I’ve a deal above that now.  First of all, old missus gave me four pound, for she said I were worth it, and I thought in my heart that I were; so I took it without more ado; but after her death, Master Thurstan and Miss Faith took a fit of spending, and says they to me, one day as I carried tea in, ’Sally, we think your wages ought to be raised.’  ‘What matter what you think!’ said I, pretty sharp, for I thought they’d ha’ shown more respect to missus, if they’d let things stand as they were in her time; and they’d gone and moved the sofa away from the wall to where it stands now, already that very day.  So I speaks up sharp, and says I, ’As long as I’m content, I think it’s no business of yours to be meddling wi’ me and my money matters.’  ‘But,’ says Miss Faith (she’s always the one to speak first if you’ll notice, though it’s master that comes in and clinches the matter with some reason she’d never ha’ thought of—­he were always a sensible lad), ’Sally, all the servants in the town have six pound and better, and you have as hard a place as any of ’em.’  ’Did you ever hear me grumble about my work that you talk about it in that way? wait till I grumble,’ says I, ‘but don’t meddle wi’ me till then.’  So I flung off in a huff; but in the course of the evening, Master Thurstan came in and sat down in the kitchen, and he’s such winning ways he wiles one over to anything; and besides, a notion had come into my head—­now you’ll not tell,” said she, glancing round the room, and hitching her chair nearer to Ruth in a confidential manner; Ruth promised, and Sally went on—­

“I thought I should like to be an heiress wi’ money, and leave it all to Master and Miss Faith; and I thought if I’d six pound a year, I could, may be, get to be an heiress; all I was feared on was that some chap or other might marry me for my money, but I’ve managed to keep the fellows off; so I looks mim and grateful, and I thanks Master Thurstan for his offer, and I takes the wages; and what do you think I’ve done?” asked Sally, with an exultant air.

“What have you done?” asked Ruth.

“Why,” replied Sally, slowly and emphatically, “I’ve saved thirty pound! but that’s not it.  I’ve getten a lawyer to make me a will; that’s it, wench!” said she, slapping Ruth on the back.

“How did you manage it?” asked Ruth.

“Ay, that was it,” said Sally; “I thowt about it many a night before I hit on the right way.  I was afeared the money might be thrown into Chancery if I didn’t make it all safe, and yet I could na’ ask Master Thurstan.  At last, and at length, John Jackson, the grocer, had a nephew come to stay a week with him, as was ’prentice to a lawyer in Liverpool; so now was my time, and here was my lawyer.  Wait a minute!  I could tell you my story better if I had my will in my hand; and I’ll scomfish you if ever you go for to tell.”  She held up her hand, and threatened Ruth as she left the kitchen to fetch the will.