China oil paintings

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; two or three. Quite as many 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
'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?'