I crave your pardon for not sooner seeing you.

But I knew not that you were in the house, and thought it must needs be my father at the door." Tom advanced and stood beside her in the window.

The pair regarded each other with a frank and friendly curiosity.
"Are you Master Cale's daughter, pretty maiden ?" asked Tom.
She nodded her head archly, whilst Tom hastened to ask: "But how comes it then that I have never seen you before?
I thought he lived alone, with only his housekeeper, shopman, and apprentice in the house." "And so he does," answered the maid.

"He will not have me to dwell here.

As soon as my mother died, when I was but eight years old, he sent me away to my aunt in Highgate, with whom I have remained ever since.