"And where have you been
this long time, my child; and who's your friend?" she added in
a lower tone.
"Well, I have left Mr Trafford's mill," said the girl.
"That's a bad job," said Mrs Carey; "for those Traffords are
kind to their people. It's a great thing for a young person
to be in their mill."
"So it is," said the girl, "but then it was so dull. I can't
stand a country life, Mrs Carey. I must have company."
"Well, I do love a bit of gossip myself," said Mrs Carey, with
great frankness.
"And then I'm no scholar," said the girl, "and never could
take to learning. And those Traffords had so many schools."
"Learning is better than house and land," said Mrs Carey;
"though I'm no scholar myself; but then, in my time, things
was different. But young persons--"
"Yes," said Mick; "I don't think I could get through the day,
if it wurno' for our Institute."
"And what's that?" asked Mrs Carey with a sneer.
"The Shoddy-Court Literary and Scientific, to be sure," said
Mick; "we have got fifty members, and take in three London
papers; one 'Northern Star' and two 'Moral Worlds.'"
"And where are you now, child?" continued the widow to the
girl.
"I am at Wiggins and Webster's," said the girl; "and this is
my partner.
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