She made her way to the cabin, a little hut built near the
mouth of the shaft for the use of the people employed about the pit; but
before she could see Tim, or fix upon any one to inquire about Stephen
from, a girl of her own age, but with a face sunburnt and blackened from
her rough and unwomanly work, and in an uncouth dress of sackcloth, which
was grimed with coal-dust, came up and peered boldly in her face.
'Why, it's Miss Fern!' she cried, with a loud laugh; 'Miss Fern, Esq.,
of Fern's Hollow, come to learn us poor pit-folk scholarship and manners.
Here, lads! here's Mr. Stephen Fern's fine sister, as knows more nor all
of us put together. Give us a bit of your learning, Miss Fern.'
'I know a black-bess when I see one,' replied Martha sharply; and all the
boys and girls joined in a ready roar of merriment against Bess Thompson,
whose nickname was the common country name for a beetle.
'That'll do!' they shouted; 'she knows a black-bess! Thee's got thy
answer, Bess Thompson.'
'What's brought thee to the pit?' asked Bess fiercely; 'we want no
scatter-witted hill girls here, I can tell ye.
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