Detective and mystery stories; English fiction -- 19th century
My name is Sarah Newman. I was in the service of Mr. Andrews at
Brighton for three months. I was discharged by him for stealing tea and
sugar. Mr. Andrews wanted to take the law of me, but my mistress would
not let him. My mistress would have kept me on, but master said, No.
She was always very kind to me, and it was very ungrateful of me to rob
her. I would never do so again. My present mistress is very kind to me,
too. I have never robbed her of a pin. I declare to goodness I have
not, nor I never will steal from anybody again. I have often wanted to
tell Mrs. Andrews so since, but did not know where she was. I did not
say it to her when I left. I felt quite hard like, because of master.
I was out of place two months after that. No one would take me without
a character. At last a friend at Bognor told me of a gentleman, and I
got her to speak to him. It was the Baron. He came to see me one day
when he was at Brighton. He insisted on knowing all about me--where I
had been and why I had left Mr. Andrews. He was very kind, and said it
was hard a poor girl should be ruined for one false step. He said if I
would promise never to steal again he would give me a trial. I promised
him faithfully, and he at last took me down to Bognor with him. I do
not know whether he made any inquiries about me. I think not. He did
not tell me he had. I meant to keep my promise. Indeed I did, and I
did keep it, almost. I mean I only took one little thing, and I really
did not think that was stealing. Nothing was ever locked up. The Baron
always insisted on having the tea-chest and other things left open in
case he wanted some. I never took any. I might have taken a great deal,
but I did not. I used to think sometimes things were left on purpose to
tempt me, but of course that was fancy. Often there were coppers left
about, but I never touched them. I did take one thing at last. I did
not think it was stealing. It was only some orange-marmalade. I am very
fond of sweet things. One day there was a pot of orange-marmalade. It
was left on the table. It was after they had gone away from breakfast.
I couldn't help it. It looked so nice. I just put in my finger. That
was all. I declare to goodness that was all. I did not even taste it.
The Baron came back and caught me. He did not say anything. He just
shut the door close and walked straight up to me. I was so frightened I
could not move. He took hold of my wrist and held up my hand. I burst
out crying. He said it was no use crying; I had deceived him, and must
go. He said if he did his duty he ought to give me up to the police. I
said indeed I had taken nothing, but only that little taste of sweets.
He said who would believe me with my character? He spoke very kind but
very stern, and I was dreadfully frightened. I begged of him not to
give me up, and he said he would give me one chance more; but I must go
away. I said if he turned me out without a character I might as well
drown myself at once.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account