" She had an action, as she talked, of flinging a very
seedy-looking black boa back across her neck vindictively. "Wot I
mean to say is that gentleman lodgers must take their chance and e's
two weeks overdue with 'is rent as it is . . . but of course I'm not
saying I couldn't oblige. 'E's a nice gentleman too, although not
talkative so to speak, but if it would give 'im 'appiness to 'ave a
lady friend close at 'and as you might say, why I wouldn't like to
be one to stand in 'is way. 'Live and let live,' 'as always been my
motter, and a very good one too."
She said all this very slowly, with a good many significant pauses.
Maggie, however, felt nothing but happiness at the prospect of
getting her way. She had gone far beyond all personal sensations of
shame or fear or hesitation.
"Would you show me the room, please?" she asked.
They pushed past the servant-girl, whose eyes followed them up the
stairs with hungry curiosity.
They climbed to the top of the house. Mrs. Brandon displayed a dark
sulky little room with damp of the tomb clinging to its wall.
"Ten bob a week," she said. She sunk her voice to a confidential
whisper.
Pages:
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853