learn a bit o' spellin'? Tha'st old enough to be
learnin' thy book a good bit now."

"I haven't any books," said Mary. "Those
I had were left in India."

"That's a pity," said Martha. "If Mrs. Medlock'd
let thee go into th' library, there's thousands
o' books there."

Mary did not ask where the library was, because
she was suddenly inspired by a new idea. She
made up her mind to go and find it herself. She
was not troubled about Mrs. Medlock. Mrs.
Medlock seemed always to be in her comfortable
housekeeper's sitting-room down-stairs. In this
queer place one scarcely ever saw any one at all.
In fact, there was no one to see but the servants,
and when their master was away they lived a luxurious
life below stairs, where there was a huge
kitchen hung about with shining brass and pewter,
and a large servants' hall where there were four
or five abundant meals eaten every day, and where
a great deal of lively romping went on when Mrs.
Medlock was out of the way.

Mary's meals were served regularly, and Martha
waited on her, but no one troubled themselves
about her in the least. Mrs. Medlock came and
looked at her every day or two, but no one inquired
what she did or told her what to do. She
supposed that perhaps this was the English way

[[67]]

p066 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p067w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p068

v?