CHAPTER XXVIII 421 to be a mere chimera . Hannah opened .
" What do you want ?" she inquired , in a voice of surprise , as she surveyed me by the light of the candle she held .
" May I speak to your mistresses ?" I said .
" You had better tell me what you have to say to them . Where do you come from ?"
" I am a stranger ." " What is your business here at this hour ?"
" I want a night ' s shelter in an out-house or anywhere , and a morsel of bread to eat ."
Distrust , the very feeling I dreaded , appeared in Hannah ' s face . " I ' ll give you a piece of bread ," she said , after a pause ; " but we can ' t take in a vagrant to lodge . It isn ' t likely ."
" Do let me speak to your mistresses ."
" No , not I . What can they do for you ? You should not be roving about now ; it looks very ill ."
" But where shall I go if you drive me away ? What shall I do ?"
" Oh , I ' ll warrant you know where to go and what to do . Mind you don ' t do wrong , that ' s all . Here is a penny ; now go -- "
" A penny cannot feed me , and I have no strength to go farther . Don ' t shut the door : - oh , don ' t , for God ' s sake !"
" I must ; the rain is driving in -- "