Summary

In Eccleston, Ruth meets the Benson’s housekeeper, Sally, an older woman who speaks in a lower-class dialect, described as neat and clean but dressed in old-fashioned clothing. In spite of her class and position, it is immediately clear that Sally is part of the family. Sally is skeptical of Ruth because she expected a much older woman. Sally is characteristically blunt, saying loudly, “If I’d been her mother, I’d ha’ given her a lollypop instead of a husband” (135).

The narrator explains that everyone believed, including Sally, that Mr. Benson’s deformity was caused when Sally dropped him as an infant. Even though Mr. Benson’s mother quickly forgave young Sally, she has spent her whole life feeling guilty and trying to make up for her mistake by serving Mr. Benson. The Bensons’ home is small but adequate for their needs...