The fat lady sniffed contemptuously and sat down.
"I think it's the sign 'Furnished Rooms' that can claim the honour," she said simply.
"Sit down, Jenny, and stop fidgeting," Miss Husted snapped out, ignoring the fat lady's attempt at smartness.
"I want a room if you have one vacant. My name is Mangenborn."
"Top floor?" inquired Miss Husted.
"I suppose you think a lady of my avoirdupois ought to live on the top floor so as to have plenty of exercise, eh?" inquired Mrs. Mangenborn with an attempt at humour. Then, without waiting for a reply, she went on:
"Well, you've just guessed right! What kind of people do you have in this house?"
"My guests are artists and gentlemen."
"Which?" inquired the stout lady, and laughed; she saw the joke if Miss Husted didn't and was good natured enough to laugh even if it were her own. "Well, I'm an artist," she said after a pause.
"Indeed?" said Miss Husted, and there was a slight inflection of sarcasm in that lady's voice.