It was on the last of these occasions that her father had taken her
by the shoulders, saying----
"No lodging-houses that want a slavey? I'll see about that. Tell me,
first, have you been to 78?"
"Yes, but another girl was before me, and the place was taken when I
arrived."
"I wonder what you were doing that you didn't get there sooner; dangling
about after your mother, I suppose! Well, what about 27 in the Crescent?"
"I couldn't go there--that Mrs. Dunbar is a bad woman."
"Bad woman! Who are you, I should like to know, that you can take a lady's
character away? Who told you she was a bad woman? One of the
Scripture-readers, I suppose! I knew it was. Well, then, just get out of
my house."
"Where shall I go?"
"Go to hell for all I care. Do you hear me? Get out!"
Esther did not move--words, and then blows. Esther's escape from her
stepfather seemed a miracle, and his anger was only appeased by Mrs.
Saunders promising that Esther should accept the situation.
"Only for a little while. Perhaps Mrs. Dunbar is a better woman than you
think for. For my sake, dearie. If you don't he may kill you and me too."
Esther looked at her one moment, then she said, "Very well, mother,
to-morrow I'll take the place."
No longer was the girl starved, no longer was she made to drudge till the
thought of another day was a despair and a terror.
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