"Was there any lady of the house?"

     "Nay, there was naught but her, and she was housekeeper;" and of her, reader, I could not bear to ask the relief for want of which I was sinking; I could not yet beg; and again I crawled away.

     Once more I took off my handkerchief--once more I thought of the cakes of bread in the little shop. Oh, for but a crust! for but one mouthful to allay the pang of famine! Instinctively I turned my face again to the village; I found the shop again, and I went in; and though others were there besides the woman I ventured the request--"Would she give me a roll for this handkerchief?"

     She looked at me with evident suspicion: "Nay, she never sold stuff i' that way."

     Almost desperate, I asked for half a cake; she again refused. "How could she tell where I had got the handkerchief?" she said.

     "Would she take my gloves?"

     "No! what could she do with them?"