“O! come, that cannot be quite true,” replied Ricardo, “I’m sure you are not so foolish as to cry for nothing! Perhaps you have left your friends for the first time, and are new to service, and it seems hard to you. Is that so?” The girl seemed grateful for the enquiry. “It ain’t that, Sir,” she said, shaking her head. “In course I was sorry to leave mother and father and the rest, but ’tain’t that as makes me cry. We’ve all got to arn our bread, and mother said it was time I was doing of something--and she will be so angry if I goes ’ome again so soon--that she will!” and Hannah commenced to sob anew. “But why should you go, Hannah? Is not Mrs. Battleby satisfied with you?” “No, Sir, I’m afeared not, though I does all I can, but she’s angry with me a’cause of the plates and dishes which they keeps slipping about, but I’m as careful of them as I can be, Sir, and I can’t ’elp the tables and chairs ’opping round the room--and whatever mother will think I don’t know! She’ll say it’s such a disgrace, but it ain’t my fault--Boo-hoo-hoo!” and here Hannah commenced to blubber afresh, till the Professor began to fear that she would attract the attention of the passers-by. “Now, look here, my good girl,” he said, “don’t cry, or you will make Mrs. Battleby still more angry. The neighbours will think she has been beating you. Listen to me! Mrs. Battleby’s a good soul, though rather strict perhaps, but I’ve known her a long time, and if you’ll promise me to dry your eyes, and be as careful as you can of the china, I’ll speak to her on your behalf when I come back from business this evening, and see if I cannot induce her to give you another trial.” “I’m sure you’re mortal good, Sir,” said the girl, as she dug her knuckles afresh into her eyes. “Never mind the goodness! You do your work as well as ever you can, to-day, and I’ll see what I can do for you on my return. What is your other name, Hannah?” “Stubbs, Sir! I’m a Shropshire girl--was raised there, and never left the village I was born in till mother sent me to Lunnon. Lor! how I wish she ’adn’t! Father is that hard on me, and what they’ll say if I’m sent back in disgrace--Mother and Joe and all--I’m sure I don’t know!” “Who is Joe?” asked the Professor, kindly, “your brother?” “No, Sir! My young man.” “Your young man! So you have a young man of your own already! And why did you come out to service, then, Hannah? Why did you not marry Joe instead?” The girl gave a conscious grin as she replied: “_We_ was willing enough, Sir, but mother wouldn’t hear on’t. She said Joe hadn’t enough to keep hisself, let alone me, and that a few years’ service would do me all the good in the world. But it seems ’ard for to leave ’ome and all.” “Never mind, Hannah! I daresay your mother knows best, and the time will pass quicker than you imagine. Any way I shall not forget to speak for you to Mrs. Battleby, so good-morning!” And Ricardo went on his way, smiling slightly to himself.