She came blithely into the room, and, screwing up her mouth, said, with a wise nod of the head:
“That’s one on the tender for ’er!”
Caroline suppressed a smile, and said reprovingly:
“I made no complaint about the size of the coal-scuttles, Victoria.”
Victoria May Alice sniffed:
“Lor bless yer, no,” said she; “but them coal-scuttles is what I calls a vegitable halloocination.... You ain’t one to complain; but it’s about time some one did it for yer.... My word, she do run it fine with them egg-cups o’ coal! She don’t dare let me fill the bucket—so I gets off that job!” Sniff.
Caroline sighed:
“Ah, Victoria, she has to practise economy.”
Victoria May Alice nodded her head seriously:
“There’s some kinds of economy as is religion, and some kinds as is against religion, mem,” said she. “She’s always talking of savin’ for that blackguard son of hers in Australia.” She came near to Caroline Baddlesmere and added in a hoarse whisper—“My solemn opinion is the feller is doin’ his five years’ hard.”