Timidity is thought rather a graceful attraction among ladies, but among poor women it is something to be laughed at.

A woman with less spirit of her own than I had, and always shall have, would have considered twice in my situation before she made up her mind to encounter the jokes of plowmen and the jeers of milkmaids.

As for me, I had hardly considered about going to the farm before I despised myself for entertaining any such notion.

"No, no," thought I, "I am not the woman to walk a mile and a half through rain, and mist, and darkness to tell a whole kitchenful of people that I am afraid.

Come what may, here I stop till father gets back." Having arrived at that valiant resolution, the first thing I did was to lock and bolt the back and front doors, and see to the security of every shutter in the house.
That duty performed, I made a blazing fire, lighted my candle, and sat down to tea, as snug and comfortable as possible.