"What time—what time—how long are you here?"
"Six months," the girl answered.
He seemed to be satisfied with her, as if this were a proof of good conduct, and he went on questioning her:
"Do you like this life?"
She hesitated, then in a tone of resignation.
"One gets used to it. It is not more worrying than any other kind of life. To be a servant-girl or else a scrub is always a nasty occupation."
He looked as if he also approved of the truthful remark.
"You are not from this place?" said he.
She answered merely by shaking her head.
"Do you come from a distance?"