“It’s comfortable enough,” she said. “Are you a London girl?”

“No, I come from the country.”

“What made you leave the country?”

I cast down my eyes. “I had a quarrel with my young man.”

Just reflect for a moment, my dear, upon my boldness!

“It ain’t the thing to take a girl without a character,” said Mrs. Preedy.

Upon this I delivered a master-stroke.

“You can consider it in the wages,” I said.

It had an effect upon the woman. “How much do you expect?” she asked.