Her hair was not dressed; and her lace cap was all on one side.

The upper part of her was clothed in a loose jacket of blue merino; the lower part was robed in a dimity dressing gown of doubtful white.

In one hand, she held a dirty dogs'-eared book, which I at once detected to be a Circulating Library novel.

Her other hand supported a baby enveloped in flannel, sucking at her breast.

Such was my first experience of Reverend Finch's Wife--destined to be also the experience of all aftertime.