I am an artist.

I hope you will pardon my present intrusion." "There is no use in your coming here," said Peg, abruptly, "and you may as well go away.

I don't want to buy any pictures.

I've got plenty of better ways to spend my money than to throw it away on such trash." No one would have thought of doubting Peg's word, for she looked far from being a patron of the arts.
"You have a young girl living with you, about seven or eight years old, have you not ?" inquired the artist.
Peg instantly became suspicious.
"Who told you that ?" she demanded, quickly.
"No one told me.

I saw her in the street." Peg at once conceived the idea that her visitor was aware of the fact that the child had been lured away from home; possibly he might be acquainted with the cooper's family?
or might be their emissary.
"Suppose you did see such a child on the street, what has that to do with me ?" "But I saw the child entering this house with you." "What if you did ?" demanded Peg, defiantly.
"I was about," said the artist, perceiving that he was misapprehended, "I was about to make a proposition which may prove advantageous to both of us." "Eh!" said Peg, catching at the hint.