I know I did not learn as much as
I might, but perhaps I might do for servants and people who are
not particular."
"Servants are as particular as any one," said Miss Benson, glad
to lay hold of the first objection that she could.
"Well! somebody who would be patient with me," said Ruth.
"Nobody is patient over an ill-fitting gown," put in Miss Benson.
"There's the stuff spoilt, and what not!"
"Perhaps I could find plain work to do," said Ruth, very meekly.
"That I can do very well; mamma taught me, and I liked to learn
from her. If you would be so good, Miss Benson, you might tell
people I could do plain work very neatly, and punctually, and
cheaply."
"You'd get sixpence a day, perhaps," said Miss Benson "and who
would take care of baby, I should like to know? Prettily he'd be
neglected, would not he? Why, he'd have the croup and the typhus
fever in no time, and be burnt to ashes after."
"I have thought of all. Look how he sleeps! Hush, darling;" for
just at this point he began to cry, and to show his determination
to be awake, as if in contradiction to his mother's words. Ruth
took him up, and carried him about the room while she went on
speaking.
"Yes, just now I know he will not sleep; but very often he will,
and in the night he always does."
"And so you'd work in the night and kill yourself, and leave your
poor baby an orphan. Ruth! I'm ashamed of you. Now, brother" (Mr.
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