Nora, getting out, perceived that in many of the windows there were cards announcing that there were rooms to let. She began her search. At some houses they asked too much; at others they did not take ladies; and there were rooms in which she would not have lived rent-free; perhaps she tried a dozen without success. The cabman, who had followed her from house to house, did not appear to be so disheartened by this result as she did. "That's nothing," he declared, as she regarded him with doubtful eyes. "Sometimes people go dodging about after rooms the whole day long, and then don't find what they want. There's more round the corner; try them." Nora went round the corner, the cab moving at a walking pace beside her. The first door at which she knocked was opened by a girl, a small girl, who looked about twelve; but she wore her hair in a knob at the back of her head, and there was something in her manner which seemed intended to inform the world at large that she was to be regarded as a grown woman. "What rooms have you to let?" asked Nora. The girl looked at her with sharp, shrewd eyes; her reply was almost aggressive. "We don't care for ladies, not in the ordinary way we don't." Nora had been told this before. Though she had not understood why a woman should be objected to merely because she was a woman, she had meekly withdrawn. But there was that about this child--who bore herself as if she were so old--which induced her to persevere. "I am sorry to hear that. If you were to make an exception in my case I would try not to make myself more objectionable than I could help." The girl remained unsoftened. "That may be; but you never can tell. Some give more trouble than they're worth, and some aren't worth anything; this is a respectable house. Still there's no harm in letting you see what we have got." On the upper floor were a small sitting-room in front and a still smaller bedroom behind; barely, poorly furnished, with many obvious makeshifts, but scrupulously clean. "What rent are you asking?" "Ten shillings a week, and not a penny less; it ought to be fourteen." "I'm afraid I can't pay fourteen shillings a week just yet, but I think I can manage ten; I like the rooms because they seem so clean." "They are clean; no one can say they're not clean; I defy 'em to." "Can I see the landlady?" "My mother's the landlady; she's not very well just now; I can make all arrangements." "Then in that case don't you think that if I were to take the rooms for a week on trial, at the end of that time we might find out if we were likely to suit each other?" "We might; there's no knowing. When would you want them?" "At once; my luggage is at the door." "Then mind you make the cabman bring it up before you pay him; I know them cabmen."