Aftertheirdeparture，weagaincameout，andtookanotherwalkroundtheroom，andfoundourwayintoalittlecupboard，whichwehadnotbeforeobserved。Herewediscoveredhalfaloafofbread，apieceofcoldpudding，alumpofsaltbutter，somesoftsugarinabasin，andafinelargesliceofbacon。Onthesedaintieswefeastedveryamply，andagreedthatweshouldagainhideourselvesbehindtheblacktrunkallday，andatnight，whenthefamilywereinbed，returntotakeanothermealontheplentyofniceprovisionwhichwesohappilydiscovered。Accordingly，wecreptbackjustasthewomanwenttofillherteakettleatapump，whichstoodbetweenherhouseandthenextneighbour’s。Whenshereturned，sheputituponthefireshehadjustlit，and，takingapairofbellowsinherhand，satdowntoblowit。
Whileshewassoemployed，ayounggentleman，abouttenyearsofage，verygenteellydressed，enteredtheroom，andinafamiliarmanneraskedherhowshedid。’Iamverywell，thankyou，mydear，’repliedshe：’andpray，MasterGeorge，howdoesyourmammaandpapado；andallyourbrothersandsisters？’’Theyareallverywell，thankyou，’returnedtheboy：’AndIamcometobringyouasliceofcake，whichmygrandpapagavemeyesterday。’Thenthrowinghisarmsroundherneck，hewentonsaying，’Oh!mydear，dearBettyFlood，howIdoloveyou!Iwoulddoanythingintheworldtoserveyou。IshallsaveallmyChristmas—boxestogivetoyou；andwhenIamaman，Iwillgiveyouagreatdealofmoney。Iwishyouwerealady，andnotsopoor。’’Iammuchobligedtoyou，mydear，’saidshe，’foryourkindgood—wishes；
but，indeed，love，Iamverywellcontentedwithmystation：I
haveagoodhusband，andthreegoodchildren，andthatismorethanmanyaladycansay；andriches，MasterGeorge，unlesspeoplearegood，andthoseoneliveswitharekindandobliging，willnevermakeanybodyhappy。Whatcomfort，now，doyouthinkabodycouldeverhaveatSquireStately’s？Ideclare，ifitwasputtomychoice，IwouldratherathousandtimesbeasIam。Tobesure，theyareveryrich；butwhatofthat？theycannoteatgold；
neithercangoldeasetheirheartswhentheyareburstingalmostwithprideandill—nature。Theysay，indeed，thatMadamStatelywouldbekindenough，iftheywouldletherrest；butwhatwiththeSquire’sdrinkingandswearing，andtheyounggentleman’sextravagance，andherdaughter’sprideandquarrelling，sheisalmosttiredoutofherlife。Andso，MasterGeorge，IsayIhadratherbepoorBettyFlood，withhonestAbrahamformyhusband，thanthefinestladyintheland，ifImustliveatsucharate。