Ranged on benches down the sides of the room, the eighty girls sat motionless and erect; a quaint assemblage they appeared, all with plain locks combed from their faces, not a curl visible; in brown dresses, made high and surrounded by a narrow tucker about the throat, with little pockets of holland (shaped something like a Highlander's purse) tied in front of their frocks, and destined to serve the purpose of a work-bag: all, too, wearing woollen stockings and country-made shoes, fastened with brass buckles.
Tutte avevano i capelli lisci sulla fronte e passati dietro l'orecchio; nessun ricciolo incorniciava i loro volti; il solo ornamento era un colletto. Sul davanti dei vestiti scuri portavano cucita una tasca per il lavoro.