CHAPTER XXVIII 410 articles would be accepted: probably they would not; but I must try.
I entered the shop: a woman was there. Seeing a respectably-dressed person, a lady as she supposed, she came forward with civility. How could she serve me? I was seized with shame: my tongue would not utter the request I had prepared. I dared not offer her the half-worn gloves, the creased handkerchief: besides, I felt it would be absurd. I only begged permission to sit down a moment, as I was tired. Disappointed in the expectation of a customer, she coolly acceded to my request. She pointed to a seat; I sank into it. I felt sorely urged to weep; but conscious how unseasonable such a manifestation would be, I restrained it. Soon I asked her " if there were any dressmaker or plain-workwoman in the village?"
" Yes; two or three. Quite as many as there was employment for."
I reflected. I was driven to the point now. I was brought face to face with Necessity. I stood in the position of one without a resource, without a friend, without a coin. I must do something. What? I must apply somewhere. Where?
" Did she know of any place in the neighbourhood where a servant was wanted?"
" Nay; she couldn ' t say." " What was the chief trade in this place? What did most of the people do?"
" Some were farm labourers; a good deal worked at Mr. Oliver ' s needle-factory, and at the foundry."
" Did Mr. Oliver employ women?" " Nay; it was men ' s work." " And what do the women do?"