gal, gell
»A gal was at the bottom of it.» (T. T. T. 170. 14.)
An elderly waiter.
»smutty-faced servant-gals.» (T. T. T. 157. 3.)
The same.
»I’m fond enough of the gell.» (T. T. T. 137. 5.)
Uneducated Londoner.
»One of the gals was ill.» (Tommy And Co. 16. 12.)
The same.
»I tell ’im it’s a fine gell.» (Sketches 195. 11.)
The same.
The ordinary vulgar pronunciation of »girl», but not confined to »vulgus»; in fact quite the correct pronunciation in the middle classes of the mid-Victorian age.
When the author wants to indicate an affected pron. of the word, he writes »gearl».