And how impossible did it appear to touch the inmates of this house with concern on my behalf; to make them believe in the truth of my wants and woes--to induce them to vouchsafe a rest for my wanderings! As I groped out the door, and knocked at it hesitatingly, I felt that last idea to be a mere chimera.

Hannah opened.
"What do you want ?" she inquired, in a voice of surprise, as she surveyed me by the light of the candle she held.
"May I speak to your mistresses ?" I said.
"You had better tell me what you have to say to them.

Where do you come from ?" "I am a stranger." "What is your business here at this hour ?" "I want a night's shelter in an out-house or anywhere, and a morsel of bread to eat." Distrust, the very feeling I dreaded, appeared in Hannah's face.

"I'll give you a piece of bread," she said, after a pause; "but we can't take in a vagrant to lodge.

It isn't likely." "Do let me speak to your mistresses." "No, not I.