1856.] ''Royal FamlUc& ' '— Whence Came They f 479 



in the drapery and habiliments of actual and every-day life. It is this 

 fidelity to historic facts that gives to Sir Walter's fictions their uni- 

 versal interest. 



But, to our story— rather to our history : " Once upon a time,"— 

 we need not be definite as to dates,— suffice it that it was when a 

 Stuart was wearing the English crown— a young woman stepped 

 from a rude country wagon of that period which had just driven up 

 to the gate of the then famous Chelsea Inn, London, called the 

 "Goat and Compasses," a name formed out of the corruptions that 

 time and ignorance had produced from the pious original, -'God 

 encompasseth us!" The young woman was but dece^'ntly 'dressed 

 in the plainest rustic fashions of the times. She was of a o-ood form 

 and benevolent countenance, both face and form giving indications 

 of the ruddy health derived from free exposure to sun and country 

 air. As soon as she alighted from the wagon it was driven into 

 theyardof the " Goatand Compasses," and the young woman stood for 

 a moment as if bewildered and uncertain whither to 00. The mistress 

 of the inn having come to the door discovered her hesitation and ap- 

 parent bewilderment, and invited her to enter and take rest from 

 her journey. The young woman, encouraged by the lady's kind- 

 ness of speech and manner, readily accepted the timely invitation 

 and was directly seated by the fireside of a nicely sanded parlor 



A single interrogatory from the kind hearted landlady had com- 

 pletely won the confidence of the unsophisticated country <r[r\ and 

 m reply she had revealed her purpose of comino- up to London to 

 seek employment, for her support. -And so, my poor girl," said 

 the landlady, "so thou hast come all this way to seek service • and 

 hast thou no friend to aid thee but John Hodge, the wagoner'^— 

 Truly, he is like to give thee but small help towards gettin"- thee a 

 proper place ? " 00 



II Is service then so difficult to find ?" asked the girl despondingly. 



" Aye, marry, good situations are hard to find. But you hive 

 good health, dear child, so keep a good heart, and may be thou wilt 

 thrive as I have done." And looking round her with an air of hon- 

 est pride and homely dignity she continued, - Thou seest what I 

 have come to be ; I too left the country a young thing like thyself 

 with as little to look to for aid, and now I am mistress here. But 

 for a certain 'tis'nt every one that must look for such a fortune, and 

 m any case, it must be toiled for. I showed myself a eood servant 

 l)efore my poor old Jacob— heaven rest his soul— made m^e mistress of 



