MALLOW FARM was reached at length, and Peggy's delight was great when she found a gate that did not lead into the farmyard. The door was opened by a bright, rosy-cheeked girl about Peggy's age, who said that everybody had gone to market and she was alone in charge. Peggy looked dismayed. "Who are you?" she asked bluntly. "I'm the servant." "Reely? Well, I'd best leave the letter for your missus, and she'll send an answer. Is this your first place?" "Yes. Be you in a place?" "My place is with the Miss Churchhills. They lives at Ivy Cottage. Real ladies born they are. I comes from London." "You don't say so!" The girl stared at her as if she were some foreign product. "Yes," Peggy went on, tilting her chin in the air, "I've seen a deal o' London, too much by a long way, so I set my mind to get a place in the country, and here I am. Don't you wear no caps?" "No," said the girl, "us don't do with them in the farms. I've a sister in proper service, and she do." "Ah, well," said Peggy grandly, "they take a lot o' care and keepin'. My name be Margaret Perkins. What be yours?" "Ellen Tate. My home is in the village. I only come here four months gone." "Don't you like it?" "No, I wants to go to a town. Tell about London. There are miles o' shops, ain't there?" "Miles and miles; but the country is a deal nicer." "I'm sure it ain't." "You has to pay for everything in London," Peggy said, slowly thinking it out, "and the country gives it to you free. I picks up sticks for the fires, and in London you'd pay a mint o' money for 'em. Look at my primroses! I didn't pay nothin' for 'em. In London they'd cost a shilling quite, and Miss Joyce brought some watercreases in the t'other day from the stream. She got 'em free. In London you pays." "Yes," assented Ellen; "you wants money if you goes to Lunnon. I knows that." "Have you got many friends?" demanded Peggy, looking at her with great interest. "Why, I haven't one." "Would you like me as a friend? I think I'd like you. You see we be both in service, and pretty near of an age. I'd like a friend in these parts, and I believe we'd get on fine." Ellen looked delighted. "I'd like you first-rate, 'cause you'd tell about Lunnon. But what day do you get out? I'd meet you on a Wednesday." "Oh, I'll ask my missus, and let you know. I must be off now, for I have my tea a-comin' on." Peggy returned home safely, and in very good spirits.