"Your appearance suits me exactly," returned Mrs. Bassett; "but I could not take a person into my household who is an entire stranger, and who has no references to offer to assure me of her respectability."
Jessie's eyes filled with tears.
"I am so sorry," she faltered; "but as I am a stranger in Albany, there is no one here to whom I could apply for a reference."
"I like your face very much indeed," repeated Mrs. Bassett, more to herself than to the girl; then, turning to her suddenly, she asked: "Where are you from— where's your home?"
"A little village on the St. Lawrence River called Fisher's Landing," returned Jessie. "My uncle, Captain Carr, died a week ago, and I was forced to leave my old home, and go out into the world and earn my own living."
"Did you say you lived at Fisher
