From the place in which Ruth sat she could see all Sally's
movements; and though she was not conscious of close or minute
observation at the time (her body being weary, and her mind full
of other thoughts), yet it was curious how faithfully that scene
remained depicted on her memory in after years. The warm light
filled every corner of the kitchen, in strong distinction to the
faint illumination of the one candle in the parlour, whose
radiance was confined, and was lost in the dead folds of
window-curtains, carpet, and furniture. The square, stout,
bustling figure, neat and clean in every respect, but dressed in
the peculiar, old-fashioned costume of the county, namely, a
dark-striped linsey-woolsey petticoat, made very short,
displaying sturdy legs in woollen stockings beneath; a loose kind
of jacket, called there a "bedgown," made of pink print, a
snow-white apron and cap, both of linen, and the latter made in
the shape of a "mutch";--these articles completed Sally's
costume, and were painted on Ruth's memory. Whilst Sally was
busied in preparing tea, Miss Benson took off Ruth's things; and
the latter instinctively felt that Sally, in the midst of her
movements, was watching their proceedings. Occasionally she also
put in a word in the conversation, and these little sentences
were uttered quite in the tone of an equal, if not of a superior.
She had dropped the more formal "you," with which at first she
had addressed Miss Benson, and thou'd her quietly and habitually.
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