and cold is cheap so it is with poor folks t is a great pity you ve no now to keep your fire in for you t is very strange there do be no turf in this f country a little captive maid and she looked at the captain with a winning smile the captain smiled back again in spite of himself stood looking out of the window she seemed to be thinking of herself instead of the invalid what did you say your name was asked the old gentleman a moment later frowning his eyebrows at her like pieces of sir i m from the outside o she made him the least bit of a courtesy as if a sudden wind had bent her like a long flower how came you here his mouth straightened into a smile as he spoke in spite of a determination to be severe i m but two weeks over sir i come over to me cousins the seeking me fortune i d like tis a fine place sir but i m very i m as fast to be going back as i was to be coming away and she gave a soft sigh and turned away to brush the hearth well you must be a good girl said the captain with great propriety after a pause a little captive maid deed sir i am that responded sincerely no one had a word to fling af ther me and i coming away but crying me nobody tell anything to my shame when my name be spoke at home my mother brought me up well god save her she did then this unaffected report of her own good reputation was pleasing to s employer the sight of s simple pleasant irish face and the freshness of her youth was the most delightful thing that had happened in many a dreary day he felt in his waistcoat pocket with sudden impulse sure of finding a bit of money there with which might buy herself a ribbon he was strongly inclined toward making her feel at home in the old house which had grown to be such a prison to himself but there was no money in the pocket as there always used to be when he was well he had not needed any before in a long time he began to fret about this and to wonder what they had done with his pocket book it was to be treated like a while he over his wrongs heard mrs s hurrying footsteps in the hall but as she slipped away it was a little captive maid plain that she had found time enough to bestow her entire sympathy and even upon the captain in this brief interview he s dull poor gentleman � he s very sad all day by himself and so pleasant spoken the cr she said to herself indignantly as she went running down the stairs it was not long before to everybody s surprise captain gained strength and began to feel so much better that was often posted in the room or the hall close by to run his frequent errands and pick up his newspapers as they fell this gave mrs and a chance to look after their other business affairs and to take their ease after so long a season of close attendance the captain had a way of asking where s that little girl as if he only wished to see her to and was always ready to come with her sewing or any bit of that could be carried and to entertain her master by the hour the more irritable his temper the more unconscious and merry she always seemed i was down last night wit me cousins so i was she informed him one morning while she brushed up the floor about the fireplace a little captive maid on her hands and knees you d ought to see her little sir she s the darling cr i never saw any one so and smart for the size of her she ain t the of a bee s knee sir who is n t inquired the captain attracted for the moment by the pleasing me cousin s little sir answered with a fear that she had failed in her choice of a subject t is no more than the of a bee s knee she is the and has every talk to you like a little grandmother � the big words of her to come sideways out of her mouth i d like it well if her mother would dress her up and d go fetch her for you to see the captain made an expressive sound of disdain and brushed away at the rug in silence he looked out of the window and on the arm of his chair it was a very uncomfortable morning there was a noise in the street and pricked up her ears with her head alert like a young hare stood up on her knees and listened warrant it s me heart s darling at the she exclaimed a little captive maid nothing but a parcel of boys grumbled the captain it s he then the lad said by this time close to the other front window look at him now sir goin by he s b y in the church and a lovely voice in him me cousins is going to have him learn music that s the girl i left behind me he s got in the old now hard to tell what it is growled the captain anything for a i dare say sir i was thinking the tune come out of it tail first agreed with ready sympathy he s the big brother to the little i told you of just now twas dan gave the old himself used to play it in a company there s a or two gone i m anyway there s teeth gone 