Milly Darrell and Other Tales

d been used to going about among the cottagers at home, and I liked the work. It was very pleasant to see Milly Darrell with these people-the perfect confidence and sympathy between them

wound across the moor in a direction I had never walked in until that day. We went on for about two miles without passing a human habitation, and then came to one of the most desolate-loo

ithin a few paces of this solitary dwelling; 'but old Rebecca is a character in her way, and I

window of the cottage were firmly closed. Milly knocked with he

ed by some herbs in a jar that was simmering over a little stove in a corner. Bunches of dried herbs hung from the low ceiling

introduction; 'all our servants come to her to be cured when they have co

the old woman; 'I don't like the

Milly gaily; 'I thought

or coughs, nor sore-threats, nor suchlikes. I don't know that I shouldn't starve out

houlish speech; but Milly only laug

esay they'd say pretty much the same kind of thing

Naught's never in danger.-Peter, c

od grinning at us. He had the white sickly aspect of a creature reared without the influence of air and

o better, I'm afraid

ple think, and has queer cunning ways of his own; bu

with him as you do with the patients wh

'I took to him kindly enough when he was a little fellow; but

n his narrow chest. His attitude had been a stooping one from

loy himself

and roots for me sometimes. He can do

o you, at any rate,

help; I've plenty of time to gather them myself. But I've taugh

r only grandchild, isn

tle public-house in Thornleigh village, and he took to drinking, till everything went to rack and ruin. My poor girl took the trouble to heart more than her husband did, a great deal; and I believe it was the trouble that killed her. She died three weeks after that boy was born, and her husb

ly; and the boy went to her directl

Peter? Miss Darrell, who used to tal

brightened into someth

was always kind to Peter. It's not

purse and gave

for your own self, to buy whatever you like

by the donation; but he never took his eyes from Milly Darrell's face.

im a little more air and sunshine, Mrs. Thatcher?' Milly ask

rs. Thatcher answered indifferently. 'He

sit out-of-doors on fi

' said

ans a sympathetic person, while I sat looking on, and contemplati

res, and a frame of scanty gray hair, among which a sandy tinge still lingered here and there; her eyes were of an ugly reddish-brown, and had, I thought, a most sinis

he admitted that Rebecca Thatcher was no favourite even amo

ul, there is no way of finding her out in that kind of business. The foolish country girls who consult her always keep her

eemed a bitter thing to say 'good-bye' to Milly Darrell, and to go back alone to a place which must needs be doubly dull and dreary

sure none could have guessed the grief I felt in this parting. Mrs. Darrell was very kind and gracious on this occa

t her wonderingly

our spending it elsewh

uaded her stepdaughte

er than the more for

in town, or we might be abroad. I can only say that if we are at h

driven to the station in state in the barouche, and to look s

and the elements of botany, until my weary head ached and my heart grew sick. And when I came to be a governess, it would of course be the same thing over and