"Yes! And he was sorry. But our factory were a good one on the whole; and a steady likely set o' people; and father was afeard of letting me go to a strange place, for though yo' would na think it now, many a one then used to call me a gradely lass enough. And I did na like to be reckoned nesh and soft, and Mary's schooling were to be kept up, mother said, and father he were always liking to buy books, and go to lectures o' one kind and another--all which took money--so I just worked on till I shall ne'er get the whirr out o' my ears, or the fluff out o' my throat i' this world. That's all."
"How old are you?" asked Margaret.
"Nineteen, come July."

'Yes! And he were sorry. But our factory were a good one on the whole; and a steady set o' people; and father was afeard of letting me go to a strange place. And I did na like to be reckoned nesh and weak, and Mary's schooling were to be kept up, mother said, and father he were always liking to buy books and go to lectures - all which took money - so I just worked on. That's all.'
'How old are you?'
'Nineteen, come July.'
