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—a church bell。
I turned in the direction of the sound； and there； amongst the romantic hills； whose changes and aspect I had ceased to note an hour ago； I saw a hamlet and a spire。 All the valley at my right hand was full of pasture…fields； and cornfields； and wood； and a glittering stream ran zig…zag through the varied shades of green； the mellowing grain； the sombre woodland； the clear and sunny lea。 Recalled by the rumbling of wheels to the road before me； I saw a heavily…laden waggon labouring up the hill； and not far beyond were two cows and their drover。 Human life and human labour were near。 I must struggle on： strive to live and bend to toil like the rest。
About two o’clock p。m。 I entered the village。 At the bottom of its one street there was a little shop with some cakes of bread in the window。 I coveted a cake of bread。 With that refreshment I could perhaps regain a degree of energy： without it； it would be difficult to proceed。 The wish to have some strength and some vigour returned to me as soon as I was amongst my fellow…beings。 I felt it would be degrading to faint with hunger on the causeway of a hamlet。 Had I nothing about me I could offer in exchange for one of these rolls？ I considered。 I had a small silk handkerchief tied round my throat； I had my gloves。 I could hardly tell how men and women in extremities of destitution proceeded。 I did not know whether either of these articles would be accepted： probably they would not； but I must try。
I entered the shop： a woman was there。 Seeing a respectably… dressed person； a lady as she supposed； she came forward with civility。 How could she serve me？ I was seized with shame： my tongue would not utter the request I had prepared。 I dared not offer her the half…worn gloves； the creased handkerchief： besides； I felt it would be absurd。 I only begged permission to sit down a moment； as I was tired。 Disappointed in the expectation of a customer； she coolly acceded to my request。 She pointed to a seat； I sank into it。 I felt sorely urged to weep； but conscious how unseasonable such a manifestation would be； I restrained it。 Soon I asked her “if there were any dressmaker or plain…workwoman in the village？”
“Yes； tany as there was employment for。”
I reflected。 I was driven to the point now。 I was brought face to face with Necessity。 I stood in the position of one without a resource； without a friend； without a coin。 I must do something。 What？ I must apply somewhere。 Where？
“Did she know of any place in the neighbourhood where a servant was wanted？”
“Nay； she couldn’t say。”
“What was the chief trade in this place？ What did most of the people do？”
“Some were farm labourers； a good deal worked at Mr。 Oliver’s needle…factory； and at the foundry。”
“Did Mr。 Oliver employ women？”
“Nay； it was men’s work。”
“And what do the women do？”
“I knawn’t；” was the answer。 “Some does one thing； and some another。 Poor folk mun get on as they can。”
She seemed to be tired of my questions： and； indeed； what claim had I to importune her？ A neighbour or two came in； my chair was evidently wanted。 I took leave。
I passed up the street； looking as I went at all the houses to the right hand and to the left； but I could discover no pretext； nor see an inducement to enter any。 I rambled round the hamlet； going sometimes to a little distance and returning again； for an hour or more。 Much exhausted； and suffering greatly now for want of food； I turned aside into a lane and sat down under the hedge。 Ere many minutes had elapsed； I was again on my feet； however； and again searching something—a resource； or at least an informant。 A pretty little house stood at the top of the lane； with a garden before it； exquisitely neat and brilliantly blooming。 I stopped at it。 What business had I to approach the white door or touch the glittering knocker？ In what way could it possibly be the interest of the inhabitants of that dwelling to serve me？ Yet I drew near and knocked。 A mild…looking； cleanly…attired young woman opened the door。 In such a voice as might be expected from a hopeless heart and fainting frame—a voice wretchedly low and faltering—I asked if a servant was wanted here？
“No；” said she； “we do not keep a servant。”
“Can you tell me where I could get employment of any kind？” I continued。 “I am a stranger； without acquaintance in this place。 I want some work： no matter what。”
But it was not her business to think for me； or to seek a place for me： besides； in her eyes； how doubtful must have appeared my character； position； tale。 She shook her head； she “was sorry she could give me no information；” and the white door closed； quite gently and civilly： but it shut me out。 If she had held it open a little longer； I believe I should have begged a piece of bread； for I was now brought low。
I could not bear to return to the sordid village； where； besides； no prospect of aid was visible。 I should have longed rather to deviate to a wood I saw not far off； which appeared in its thick shade to offer inviting shelter； but I was so sick； so weak； so gnawed with nature’s cravings； instinct kept me roaming round abodes where there was a chance of food。 Solitude would be no solitude—rest no rest— while the vulture； hunger； thus sank beak and talons in my side。
I drew near houses； I left them； and came back again； and again I wandered away： always repelled by the consciousness of having no claim to ask—no right to expect interest in my isolated lot。 Meantime； the afternoon advanced； while I thus wandered about like a lost and starving dog。 In crossing a field； I saw the church spire before me： I hastened towards it。 Near the churchyard； and in the middle of a garden； stood a well…built though small house； which I had no doubt was the parsonage。 I remembered that strangers who arrive at a place where they have no friends； and who want employment； sometimes apply to the clergyman for introduction and aid。 It is the clergyman’s function to help—at least with advice— those who wished to help themselves。 I seemed to have something like a right to seek counsel here。 Renewing then my courage； and gathering my feeble remains of strength； I pushed on。 I reached the house； and knocked at the kitchen…door。 An old woman opened： I asked was this the parsonage？
“Yes。”
“Was the clergyman in？”
“No。”
“Would he be in soon？”
“No； he was gone from home。”
“To a distance？”
“Not so far—happen three mile。 He had been called away by the sudden death of his father： he was at Marsh End now； and would very likely stay there a fortnight longer。”
“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？”
Reader； it is not pleasant to dwell on these details。 Some say there is enjoyment in looking back to painful experience past； but at this day I can scarcely bear to review the times to which I allude： the moral degradation； blent with the physical suffering； form too distressing a recollection ever to be willingly dwelt on。 I blamed none of those who repulsed me。 I felt it was what was to be expected； and what could not be helped： an ordinary beggar is frequently an object of suspicion； a well…dressed beggar inevitably so。 To be sure； what I begged was employment； but whose business was it to provide me with employment？ Not； certainly； that of persons who saw me then for the first time； and who knew nothing about my character。 And as to the wo