"Yes, ma'am," said Mercy. Nesta went and stood in front of Mrs Johnston. "Take a seat, my dear," said the good lady, for she recalled that even a clumsy visitor from the Castle was worth propitiating. "So you have come from Miss Angela St Just. I do trust and hope that the sweet young lady isn't going to disappoint me?" "But I haven't," said Nesta, "and she didn't send you a message." "But you are staying there?" "No; I'm not." "Then what message have you from the St Justs, may I ask?" Mrs Johnston held herself very upright. Even her rheumatism gave way to her anger. "What has brought you here, may I ask, young girl?" "I came," said Nesta, "because Mrs Hogg sent me." "Mrs Hogg? Hogg? You don't mean Mary Hogg, the laundress?" "I don't know whether she's a laundress or whether she's not, but I am lodging there." Mrs Johnston sat still more upright. "I am lodging there for the present I know the St Justs, but I am lodging there, and I want something to do in this place, and I thought perhaps you'd let me--oh, please don't get so red in the face! Please don't! Please hear me out. I thought perhaps you'd let me come and read to you, the same as the girl who went to America. Mrs Hogg said you wanted some one." "Mary Hogg shall never have one scrap of my washing again. What does she mean by sending me a total stranger? I shall request Mary Hogg to mind her own business." "Please, it isn't her fault. I wanted a blind one, but when there wasn't one, I thought, perhaps, you'd do." "What?" said Mrs Johnston. "Some one who is blind; but you aren't blind." "Thank Heavens, no! I can see quite well, and I don't much admire your face, Miss." "But I could read to you. I can read, oh, so well. I have an invalid mother, and I've read to her, oh, stories upon stories out of the penny papers. I can read ever so quickly. I wish you'd try me. What I want is ten shillings a week, and, and--oh, not my food. I could have my food at Mrs Hogg's. It is awfully plain--pease pudding and herrings mostly; but I don't mind that if only you'd pay me ten shillings a week and let me come to you every day." "You are the most audacious girl! I really never heard of anything quite so extraordinary in the whole course of my life. And, pray, may I ask why you said you had come from the St Justs?" "I know them, you see, and I thought your maid wouldn't let me in, so I made up an excuse." "Then you are a liar as well. Now, let me give you my answer. I don't know you or anything about you. I don't like your appearance. I don't intend to employ you as my reader. You are exceedingly awkward and your dress is untidy. If you are a lady you scarcely look like one, and ladies don't go to lodge with women like Mary Hogg." "If they are very poor they do," said Nesta. "I have got very little money." "What is your name?" "Oh, please, don't ask me. I would rather not say."