Esther Waters

the white vapour rose above them, evaporating in the pale evening. A moment more and the last c

and her hair of so ordinary a brown that it passed unnoticed. The nose was too thick, but the nostrils were well formed. The eyes were grey, luminous, and veiled with dark lashes. But it was only when she laughed that her face lost its habitual expression, which was somewhat sullen; then it flowed with bright humour. She laughed now, showing a white line of almond-shaped teeth. The porter had asked her

shore a weedy river flowed and the little town stood clamped together, its feet in the water's edge. There were decaying shipyards about the harbour, and wooden breakwaters stretched long, thin arms seawards for ships that did not come. On t

es would be. But the life in Woodview was a great dream, and she could not imagine herself accomplishing all that would be required of her. There would be a butler, a footman, and a page; she would not mind the page-but the butler and footman, what would they think? There would be an upper-housemaid and an under-housemaid, and perhaps a lady's-maid, and maybe that these ladies had been abroad with the family. She had heard of France and Germany. Their conversation would, no doubt, turn on such subjects. Her silence would betray her. They would ask her what situations she had been in, and when they learn

like Woodview always changed their dresses twice a day, and on Sundays went out in silk mantles and hats in the newest fashion. As for the lady's-maid, she of course had all her mistress's clothes, and walked with the butler. What would such people think of a little girl like her! Her heart sank at the thought, and she sighed, anticipating much bitterness and disappointment. Even when her

he girl continued to imagine the future she was about to enter on with increasing distinctness. Looking across the fields she could see two houses, one in grey stone, the other in red brick with a gable covered with

in a deep breath of health. Behind the plantation she found a large white-painted wooden gate. It opened into a handsome avenue, and the gatekeeper told her to keep straight on, and to turn to the left when she got to t

place. The avenue turned a little, and she came suddenly

s this the way

ily-built figure, yet graceful in its sturdiness, and the bright cheeks, he said

on the paling. "They told me at the station tha

he new kitchen-maid

er Wa

d q's or else you'll be dropped on. The devil of a temper w

in serv

but mother did not like me to put on livery, and I don't know how I

asked, raising her eyes timi

tell every blessed thing that was done in the stables. They'd get him down

you take

o much the berth that I care about, but the advantages, information fresh from the fountain-head. You won't catch me chattering o

loodless cheeks. Notwithstanding the shallow chest, he was powerfully built, the long arms could deal a swinging blow. The low forehead and the lustreless eyes told o

bundle," he said at the end of a

o leave them at the station, for it would be easy for anyone to

and you can't puzzle her, try as you will. She knows all the names, can tell you which lord it was that saved the girl from the carriage when the 'osses were tearing like mad towards a pr

ld not read. Noticing a change in the expression of her face, he concluded that

reads. I don't know what is your taste, but I likes something more practical; the little 'oss in ther

tion that the donkey-car

ing down with the trap. But, golly! it has gone the half-hour. I shall catch it for keeping you talking, and my mother has been e

ried Esther. "Will y

oors, hearing the trampling of horses and the rattling of chains. Then the roadway opened into a handsome yard overlooked by the house, the back premises of which had been lately rebuilt in red brick. There were gables and ornamental porches, and through the large kitchen windows the servants were seen passing to and fro. At the top of this yard was a gate. It led into the park, and, like the other gate, was overhung by bunched evergreens. A

matting. They walked a few yards; the kitchen was the first door, and the handsome room she found herself in did not conform to anything that Esther had seen or heard of kitchens. The range almost filled one end of the room, and on it a dozen saucepans were simmering; the

new kitchen-m

om the oven and was filling with jam. Esther noticed the likeness that Mrs. Latch bore to her s

ll tell me the

was a quarter of an hour

l this time. Six people coming to dinner, and I've been the whole day without a kitchen-maid. If Margar

er things off and set to and prepare the vegetables, so that she might see what she was made of, Esther did not answer at

up, and Margaret Gale w

r hes

ok as if it could come to mu

f dogged obstinacy passed over and settled on Esther's face, even