"We help ourselves as well as we can.

But since I have been ill, it has been very hard.
What help could a young lady like you give us ?" "I am not a young lady.

I can take off Lenchen's frock and wash it, and hang it out to dry," replied Elsli, eagerly.
"Your dress shows that you are a young lady," answered the sick woman, evidently much surprised; and she glanced searchingly at Elsli from head to foot.
The dress, which was one of Nora's, was of soft woollen material, trimmed with silk bands.
"It is not mine; it was only given me to wear," she said.
Suddenly the woman felt strongly drawn towards the friendly girl.

She thought she must be a foreigner.

Her way of speaking, her whole appearance had something unusual about it.