"Well, if thou wunnot thou wunnot. Some one mun though. It's a dree task; but it's a chance, every minute, as she doesn't hear on it in some rougher way nor a person going to make her let on by degrees, as it were."
"Papa, do you go," said Margaret, in a low voice.
"If I could--if I had time to think of what I had better say; but all at once----" Margaret saw that her father was indeed unable. He was trembling from head to foot.
"I will go," said she.
"Bless yo' miss, it will be a kind act; for she's been but a sickly sort o' body, I hear, and few hereabouts know much on her."
Margaret knocked at the closed door; but there was such a noise, as of many little ill-ordered children, that she could hear no reply; indeed, she doubted if she was heard, and as every moment of delay made her recoil from her task more and more, she opened the door and went in, shutting it after her, and even, unseen by the woman, fastening the bolt.
Mrs. Boucher was sitting in a rocking-chair, on the other side of the ill-redd-up fireplace; it looked as if the house had been untouched for days by any effort at cleanliness.

'Well, if thou wunnot thou wunnot. Some one must, though. It's a dree task; but it's a chance, every minute, that she'll hear on it some rougher way.'
'Papa, you go,' said Margaret, in a low voice.
'If I had time to think of what to say; but all at once-' Margaret saw that her father was trembling.
'I will go,' said she.
'Bless yo', miss, it will be a kind act; for she's been sickly, I hear, and few hereabouts know her.'
Margaret knocked at the closed door; but there was such a noise of many little children, that she could hear no reply; indeed, she doubted if she was heard. Before she could recoil from her task, she opened the door and went in.
Mrs. Boucher was sitting in a rocking-chair by the dirty fireplace; it looked as if the house had not been cleaned for days.
