MRS. ROBERTS. [A little resentfully.] Roberts never touches a drop; and he's never had a bet in his life.
ENID. Oh! but he's not a com——I mean he's an engineer—— a superior man.
MRS. ROBERTS. Yes, M'm. Roberts says they've no chance of other pleasures.
ENID. [Musing.] Of course, I know it's hard.
MRS. ROBERTS. [With a spice of malice.] And they say gentlefolk's just as bad.
ENID. [With a smile.] I go as far as most people, Annie, but you know, yourself, that's nonsense.
MRS. ROBERTS. [With painful effort.] A lot 'o the men never go near the Public; but even they don't save but very little, and that goes if there's illness.
ENID. But they've got their clubs, have n't they?
MRS. ROBERTS. The clubs only give up to eighteen shillin's a week, M'm, and it's not much amongst a family. Roberts says workin' folk have always lived from hand to mouth. Sixpence to-day is worth more than a shillin' to-morrow, that's what they say.
ENID. But that's the spirit of gambling.