'Coloured them up, I mean,' the girl apologised grudgingly. 'It was a long job, I can tell you.'
Victoria smiled. 'Well,' she said, 'I must come back on Monday and see it finished if I'm in the City.'
'Oh, aren't you in the City?' asked the girl. 'West End?'
'No, not exactly West End,' said Victoria. 'I'm not doing anything just now.'
The fair girl gave her a glance of faint suspicion.
'Oh, aye, I see,' she said slowly, thoughtfully considering the rather full lines of Victoria's figure.
Victoria had not the slightest idea of what she saw. 'I'm looking out for a berth,' she remarked casually.
'Oh, are you?' said the girl with renewed animation. 'What's your line?'
'Anything,' said Victoria. She looked round the pink and white shop. A feeling of weariness had suddenly come over her. The woman at the top of the steps had backed away a little, and was rhythmically swishing a wet rag on the linoleum. Under her untidy hair her neck gleamed red and fleshy, touched here and there with beads of perspiration. Victoria took her in as unconsciously as she would an ox patiently straining at the yoke. To and fro the woman's body rocked, like a machine wound up to work until its parts drop out worn and useless.
'Ever done any waiting?' The voice of the girl almost made Victoria jump. She saw herself being critically inspected.