nt in the masses of life which people earth。 Women are supposed to be very calm generally： but women feel just as men feel； they need exercise for their faculties； and a field for their efforts； as much as their brothers do； they suffer from too rigid a restraint； too absolute a stagnation； precisely as men would suffer； and it is narrow…minded in their more privileged fellow…creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings； to playing on the piano and embroidering bags。 It is thoughtless to condemn them； or laugh at them； if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex。
When thus alone； I not unfrequently heard Grace Poole’s laugh： the same peal； the same low； slow ha！ ha！ which； when first heard； had thrilled me： I heard； too； her eccentric murmurs； stranger than her laugh。 There were days when she was quite silent； but there were others when I could not account for the sounds she made。 Sometimes I saw her： she would e out of her room with a basin； or a plate； or a tray in her hand； go down to the kitchen and shortly return； generally （oh； romantic reader； forgive me for telling the plain truth！） bearing a pot of porter。 Her appearance always acted as a damper to the curiosity raised by her oral oddities： hard…featured and staid； she had no point to which interest could attach。 I made some attempts to draw her into conversation； but she seemed a person of few words： a monosyllabic reply usually cut short every effort of that sort。
The other members of the household； viz。； John and his wife； Leah the housemaid； and Sophie the French nurse； were decent people； but in no respect remarkable； with Sophie I used to talk French； and sometimes I asked her questions about her