"At Mr. Thorpe's farm, please, near Severn Stoke." "For how long?" "Twelve months, please. I went there Old Michaelmas Day, last year." "Why are you leaving?" "Please, ma'am"--a pause here--"please, I wanted a change, and the work was a great sight of it; frightful heavy; and missis often cross. Quite a herd o' milkers, there was, there." "What is your name?" "Grizzel Clay. I be strong and healthy, please, ma'am; and I was twenty-two in the summer." "Can you have a character from Mrs. Thorpe?" "Yes, please, ma'am, and a good one. She can't say nothing against me." And so the queries went on; one would have thought the Mater was hiring a whole regiment of soldiers. Grizzel was ready and willing to enter on her place at once, if hired. Mrs. Thorpe was in Worcester that day, and might be seen at the Hare and Hounds inn. "What do you think, Johnny?" whispered the Mater. "I should hire her. She's just the girl I wouldn't mind taking without any character." "With those blue bows! Don't be simple, Johnny. Still I like the girl, and may as well see Mrs. Thorpe." "By the way, though," she added, turning to Grizzel, "what wages do you ask?" "Eight pounds, please, ma'am," replied Grizzel, after some hesitation, and with reddening cheeks. "Eight pounds!" exclaimed Mrs. Todhetley. "That's very high." "But you'll find me a good servant, ma'am." We went back through the town to the Hare and Hounds, an inn near the cathedral. Mrs. Thorpe, a substantial dame in a long cloth skirt and black hat, by which we saw she had come in on horse-back, was at dinner. She gave Grizzel Clay a good character. Saying the girl was honest, clean, hardworking, and very sweet-tempered; and, in truth, she was rather sorry to part with her. Mrs. Todhetley asked about the blue bows. Ay, Mrs. Thorpe said, that was Grizzel Clay's great fault--a love of finery: and she recommended Mrs. Todhetley to "keep her under" in that respect. In going out we found Grizzel waiting under the archway, having come down to learn her fate. Mrs. Todhetley said she should engage her, and bade her follow us to the hotel. "It's an excellent character, Johnny," she said, as we went along the street. "I like everything about the girl, except the blue ribbons." "I don't see any harm in blue ribbons. A girl looks nicer in ribbons than without them." "That's just it," said the Mater. "And this girl is good-looking enough to do without them. Johnny, if Mr. Todhetley has no objection, I think we had better take her back in the carriage. You won't mind her sitting by you?" "Not I. And I'm sure I shall not mind the ribbons." So it was arranged. The girl was engaged, to go back with us in the afternoon. Her box would be sent on by the carrier. She presented herself at the Star at the time of starting with a small bundle: and a little birdcage, something like a mouse-trap, that had a bird in it.