human
Good evening, she said to the portress.
gpt
It was good of my Lord Oxford to provide--nay! Charity!
human
Ay, Madam, it's me,
gpt
Why, old friend! when earnest thou hither?
human
You'd best sit you down afore you hear folks their catechisms, said Charity, coolly, leading the way to a pleasant parlour hung and upholstered in green, where a fire was burning on the hearth, and a large cushioned chair stood beside it.
gpt
When did I come? Well, let's see?--it was o' Tuesday last.
human
But how?
gpt
Same how as I get to most places, Madam--on my feet.
human
You walked to London, Charity?
gpt
Ay, I did. I'm good for fifteen miles at a stretch.
human
And whence gat you the money for your lodging?
gpt
I never paid a halfpenny for lodging nobut [Note 1] once, and that was th' last night afore I got here. Some nights I lay in a barn upo' th' hay: but most on 'em I got took in at a farm-house, and did an hour or two's work for 'em i' th' morn to pay for my lodging and breakfast. But some on 'em gave it me right out for nought--just for company like. I bought my victuals, of course: but I should ha' wanted them wherever I'd been.
human
And what led you to wish for life in London, Charity?
gpt
Eh! bless you, I want none to live i' London. It's a great, smoky, dirty place.
human
Then what did you want?
gpt
I wanted yo', said Charity, with a nod at her mistress.
human
Lady Lettice, yo'll not turn me away? If things is so bad you cannot afford to keep me, you shalln't: I can earn enough by my spinning half th' day, and serve you i' t' other half. But yo'll want two: I'm sure Rachel can ne'er do all th' work, and you'd best have me, for nob'ry else 'll put so much heart into 't as I shall. Do let me stop, for I cannot abear to leave you.
gpt
My faithful Charity, I will not turn thee away! So long as I have two loaves of bread, thou mayest be sure of one.
human
Thank God, that's all right! said Charity with a sigh of evident relief.
gpt
We's [we shall] get on famous, Rachel and me, and nother on us 'll feel as if we'd been cast away of a desert island, as I've been feeling afore yo' come. Eh, but it is a town, is this!
human
Charity, I wonder how you won in the house, said Edith.
gpt
My Lord Oxford--
human
I've got a bit more gumption, Mrs Edith, than you credit me with. I brought a letter to my Lord, or I should ne'er ha' looked to get in else.
gpt
A letter!--from whom?
human
Fro' Mrs Joyce Morrell, to tell him who I were, and a bit more, I reckon.
gpt
I asked my Lord Oxford of his goodness to speak to some upholder [upholsterer] to send in a little necessary furnishing, said Lady Louvaine, looking round,
human
You'll turn you round middling easy, Madam, answered Charity.
gpt
Th' upholder were bidden to put th' house to rights all through, and send the bill to Mistress Joyce. She gave me lodging fro' Setterday to Monday, and bade me see to 't that yo' had all things comfortable. `Don't split sixpences,' she saith; `the bigger the charges the better, so long as they be for true comfort and not for gimcracks.' So, Madam, I hope we've hit your Ladyship's liking, for me and Mrs Joyce, we tried hard--me at choosing, and she at paying. So that's how it were.
human
The lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places,
gpt
Ay, answered her mother.
human
And the pillar of the cloud hath gone before.
gpt
Well, lass, what's ta'en thee?
human
Eh, Charity Ashworth, is that thee? Where art thou fro'?
gpt
Where are we both come to? That's more to th' purpose.
human
I'm banished my country, that's all I know, said Rachel, blankly.
gpt
I'm glad to see thee, schuzheaw.
human
Dost thou mean to carry yon for th' rest o' thy life? demanded Charity, laying hands on the carpet-bag.
gpt
Come, wake up, lass, and look sharp, for there'll be some supper wanted.