he tried how he could bear it, by putting his fingers into the lighted
candle: So I, t'other day, tried, when Rachel's back was turned, if I
could not scour a pewter plate she had begun. I see I could do't by
degrees: It only blistered my hand in two places.

All the matter is, if I could get plain-work enough, I need not spoil my
fingers. But if I can't, I hope to make my hands as red as a blood-
pudding, and as hard as a beechen trencher, to accommodate them to my
condition.--But I must break off; here's somebody coming.

'Tis only our Hannah with a message from Mrs. Jervis.--But, hold, here's
somebody else. Well, it is only Rachel.

I am as much frighted, as were the city mouse and the country mouse, in
the same book of fables, at every thing that stirs. O! I have a power of
these things to entertain you with in winter evenings, when I come home.
If I can but get work, with a little time for reading, I hope we shall be
very happy over our peat fires.

What made me hint to you, that I should bring but little with me, is
this:

You must know, I did intend to do, as I have this afternoon: and that is,
I took all my clothes, and all my linen, and I divided them into three
parcels, as I had before told Mrs. Jervis I intended to do; and I said,
It is now Monday, Mrs. Jervis, and I am to go away on Thursday morning
betimes; so, though I know you don't doubt my honesty, I beg you will
look over my poor matters, and let every one have what belongs to them;
for, said I, you know I am resolved to take with me only what I can
properly call my own.