"Very well" replied the girl and she went off closing the door behind her.
"The slovenly creature" cried Marshland "Mr. Sheene has evidently had no practice in choosing his domestics.
The room in which they found themselves was rather small and very stuffey, the window being tight shut and the blind down. A red carpet adorned the floor a common deal table with a check cloth stood in the middle of the room, and three chairs were carefully arranged round it. A leather armchair was by the fireplace adorned by a crochet antimicassa, and a sofa of the same description was by the window. The mantle piece was furnished with two glass vases, and a clock, and a large photograph of Cyril and his two clerks. A sideboard was by the door covered with a clean cloth, a parrafin lamp, two trays and a bowl of lavender.
"What do you think of it?" asked Helen after she had opened the window and taken off her hat and gloves.
"Humph" said Marshland looking round "pretty fair, but law Miss Helen, comparing it with your father's dainty little parlour its a mere scullery."
"Yes" said Helen "but dont let us hurt poor Cyril's feelings, no doubt he likes it."
"No doubt" replied Marshland.
By 5 o'clock Cyril came in, very hot but happy for all that. "Well Helen" he said "what do you think of your future abode?"
"Oh its very nice" answered Helen.
"Well let us ring for tea" cried Cyril "you will take your meal with us tonight Marshland, but tomorrow you will find your place in the kitchen with Alice the maid, who will do all the hard work while you preside."