A Girl of the People

eyes were swollen from the heavy and constant tears she shed, but she had neatly plaited her hair and wound it round her comely head, and s

slight, and the girl, wrapping her shawl about her-she wore no hat or bonnet-took her accustomed stand. She always avoided the public-house-not because she feared its tipsy inhabitants, but because she knew no sale for her wares lay there. Her favorite stand was under a lamp post, close to the largest of the clubs. The light of the lamp fell full on her face and figure, and shone on the evening papers which she of

in an almost pettish voice. "Well, I can't go wit

. It vibrated again, and two sweet though rather wild

e made a valiant struggle,

e spoke in a strained a

Hester. I've sold my pa

hite with the grief, and half distraught like. There, I'm alone tonight

he could speak without effort now, but

low would come. You come home with me, Eli

osition Bet

ry white teeth. No one called Hester Wright handsome, but few women of her class in Liverpool had a wider influence. She had a peculiar voice, rather deep set, and, at least in speaking, only admitting of a limited range of compass; but every word spoken by her was so nicely adjusted, so carefully modulated, that the simplest and most ill-formed sentence acquired a rude eloquence. This was her speaking voice. When she sang, it rose into power; it was then a deep contralto

woman, and she felt a sense of comfort stealing over her as the

borne into her room on the breeze. Now the window was curtained, and a little fire shed a cheerful reflection on the dingy walls. Hester stirred the fire, threw on an additional lump or two of coal, and drawing a three-legged stool forward for Bet, motioned to her to

ep the two littl'uns safe-that's my work now, and

r. "He knew you, Bet. He knew as you weren'

t. "Most folks know that of me,"

ood, and the red-herring done to a turn. I expected Will Scarlett in

nd figure, stepped across the threshold. He colored up under his brown skin when he saw Bet,

, "the 'Good Queen Anne,'-I've got a rattl

lanced at Bet with a certain shyness, and

ave a hard fight afore her, I can see. Well, I say she must keep up heart. Have some tea, honey? Will, don't you make two mo

Hester-it's no

by the fire. Then she turned her back on Hester and the young sailor, and went on

now as it were in her. But presently she'll cry, and that'll bring her round. You tell

ck. I'm to be well paid, and it's a good ship to sail in. The ca

r cheek on her hand. Neither he nor Hester could catch

woman. "Now push the table aside, Will, and let's

'" said Will. Again he glanced

er of this gift bestowed upon them, they rose several degrees in the scale of refinement and even of education. Their voice

her lap, and her face, which was now turned towards the singers, became filled with a sort of ecstasy. Her parted lips seemed scarcely

ly for her. He looked directly at her; and a great many emotions surging in his

dead and l

as struck w

mother, ma

st die t

he said, ye

the fault

take warning

l Barba

Will's voice. It died away with a qu

. That was beautiful, Hester. Better than a drink of water when you are thirst

, Hester. It's the only beautiful thing I ha' met-your voice and Will's; they are just grand and summut to be

ged stool. "You're better, and the ice is broke a bit, and you must just set there in that cosy corner and te

you like," said

, simply. Her words sent a thrill through the young fellow's heart. He did n

y. Father have had fair warning, and he knows me. I'll take the littl'uns and be the best sort of mother I can to them; father shan't have 'em. H

low you-he's sartin sure to do his best if he thinks you are 'arning money, an

a price on both their lives-don't let's talk of it. He s

too, and he will outwit a slip of a lass like you. If he wants the boys he can claim them, I s

he Irish quarter. I know a woman there who'll be a match for father, but I'd best not say her name, for if he comes questioning i

t of his pipe. "I'll see you home, Bet,"

ir; will you come with me, Bet, and I'll show you where the 'Good Queen Anne' i

repeated Bet, "that's y

ly crew, and a fair-spoken captain. It ain't every fellow has the luck to find a berthlike mine. And I'll be back in the summer, Bet. It's a short voya

I wish you luck, Will. And is that the 'Good

of Queen Anne, after whom the ship is named, but I don't take her to be that; and now in the moonlight-you can see her w

t is tha

Scarlett comes in the bonny ship." Bet sighed. Wil

y. She sighed again, and half turne

wish you good-night now, Will. Good-night, and-yes, good luck." She turned away without even offering her hand

blood surging up into his face, and his

ead of him. Presently, hearing his step, she began to run. He raced after her;

lmost angrily. "You had no call to give me th

boys will be waiting for their supper,

I did not think I'd speak until I had summut to offer. Now I have nought but the name of an honest fellow-only th

an angry flash in

said, "My mother's lying dead, an

look after you. There ain't a braver nor a more lone lass in all Liverpool, and I love you with all the strength of my heart. Why shouldn't it be better for me to be your mate than to ha

ing, however, she had relaxed her steps. They had reached a comparatively deserted

ve you," she sa

mate with a girl what

and held it tightly

nest lass in this city, and it would be a sight better for you to be wed to me. You ain't afeard, are

n sing fit to wile any lass' heart away; but I don't love

You ask twenty honest fellows who has the straightest step and bonniest face in the town, and the

father treated her, I made up my mind never to wed with none. I'll be no man's mate, and I'll trust myself to none. Good-night,