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Gissing, George, 1857-1903

"The Unclassed"

And the result of all this was that she had to spend
I don't know how long every day in dressing herself, and then
looking at herself in the glass. And I had to learn how to do her
hair, and put paint and powder on her face, and all sorts of
wonderful things. She was as good to me as she could be, and I never
wanted for anything. And so six years passed, and one morning she
was found dead in her bed.
"Well, that was the end of the happiest time of my life. In a day or
two some relatives came to look after things, and I had to go. They
were kind to me, however; they gave me money, and told me I might
refer to them if I needed to. I came to London, and took a room, and
wondered what I should do.
"I advertised, and answered advertisements, but nothing came. My
money was going, and I should soon be as badly off as ever. I began
to do what I had always thought of as the very last thing, look for
needlework, either for home or in a workroom. I don't know how it is
that I have always hated sewing. For one thing, I really can't sew.
I was never taught as a child, and few girls are as clumsy with a
needle as I am. I've always looked upon a work-girl's life as the
most horrible drudgery; I'd far rather scrub floors.


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