Elizabeth

And when she met her for the first time, she encountered her coming down a corridor with her arms full of garments which were to be taken downstairs to be mended.

Sarah herself had already been taught to mend them.

She looked pale and unlike herself, and she was attired in the queer, outgrown frock whose shortness showed so much thin black leg.

Ermengarde was too slow a girl to be equal to such a situation.

She could not think of anything to say.

She knew what had happened, but somehow she had never imagined Sarah could look like this.

So odd and poor and almost like a servant.

It made her quite miserable, and she could do nothing but break into a short, hysterical laugh and exclaim aimlessly and as if without any meaning.

Yes.

answered Sarah, and suddenly a strange thought passed through her mind and made her face flush.

She held the pile of garments in her arms, and her chin rested upon the top of it to keep it steady.

Something in the look of her straight, gazing eyes made Ermengarde lose her wits still more

She felt as if Sarah had changed into a new kind of girl, and she had never known her before.

Perhaps it was because she had suddenly grown poor and had to mend things and work like Becky.

Oh, she stammered.

I don't know, Sarah replied.

How are you?

I'm quite well, said Ermengarde, overwhelmed with shyness.

Then, spasmodically, she thought of something to say which seemed more intimate.

She said in a rush.