’Yes，youngman；andasyounowspeaksoftlyandkindly，Iwilltellyoumywholetale。Myfatherwasanofficerofthesea，andwaskilledatseaashewascominghometomarrymymother，IsopelBerners。Hehadbeenacquaintedwithher，andhadlefther；butafterafewmonthshewroteheraletter，tosaythathehadnorest，andthatherepented，andthatassoonashisshipcametoporthewoulddoherallthereparationinhispower。Well，youngman，theverydaybeforetheyreachedporttheymettheenemy，andtherewasafight，andmyfatherwaskilled，afterhehadstruckdownsixoftheenemy’screwontheirowndeck；formyfatherwasabigman，asIhaveheard，andknewtolerablywellhowtousehishands，Andwhenmymotherheardthenews，shebecamehalfdistracted，andranawayintothefieldsandforests，totallyneglectingherbusiness，forshewasasmallmilliner；andsosherandementedaboutthemeadsandforestsforalongtime，nowsittingunderatree，andnowbythesideofariver-atlastsheflungherselfintosomewater，andwouldhavebeendrowned，hadnotsomeonebeenathandandrescuedher，whereuponshewasconveyedtothegreathouse，lestsheshouldattempttodoherselffarthermischief，forshehadneitherfriendsnorparents-andthereshediedthreemonthsafter，havingfirstbroughtmeintotheworld。
Shewasasweetprettycreature，I’mtold，buthardlyfitforthisworld，beingneitherlarge，norfierce，norabletotakeherownpart。SoIwasbornandbredinthegreathouse，whereIlearnttoreadandsew，tofearGod，andtotakemyownpart。WhenIwasfourteenIwasputouttoservicetoasmallfarmerandhiswife，withwhom，however，Ididnotstaylong，forIwashalf-starved，andotherwiseilltreated，especiallybymymistress，whoonedayattemptingtoknockmedownwithabesom，Iknockedherdownwithmyfist，andwentbacktothegreathouse。’
’Andhowdidtheyreceiveyouinthegreathouse？’
’Notverykindly，youngman-onthecontrary，Iwasputintoadarkroom，whereIwaskeptafortnightonbreadandwater；Ididnotmuchcare，however，beinggladtohavegotbacktothegreathouseatanyrate-theplacewhereIwasborn，andwheremypoormotherdied；andinthegreathouseIcontinuedtwoyearslonger，readingandsewing，fearingGod，andtakingmyownpartwhennecessary。AttheendofthetwoyearsIwasagainputouttoservice，butthistimetoarichfarmerandhiswife，withwhom，however，Ididnotlivelong，lesstime，Ibelieve，thanwiththepoorones，beingobligedtoleavefor-’
’Knockingyourmistressdown？’