MRS. JONES. We've not got a home, sir. Of course we've been obliged to put away most of our things. BARTHWICK. Put your things away! You mean to--to--er--to pawn them? MRS. JONES. Yes, sir, to put them away. We're living in Merthyr Street--that is close by here, sir--at No. 34. We just have the one room. BARTHWICK. And what do you pay a week? MRS. JONES. We pay six shillings a week, sir, for a furnished room. BARTHWICK. And I suppose you're behind in the rent? MRS. JONES. Yes, sir, we're a little behind in the rent. BARTHWICK. But you're in good work, aren't you? MRS. JONES. Well, Sir, I have a day in Stamford Place Thursdays. And Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays I come here. But to-day, of course, is a half-day, because of yesterday's Bank Holiday. BARTHWICK. I see; four days a week, and you get half a crown a day, is that it? MRS. JONES. Yes, sir, and my dinner; but sometimes it's only half a day, and that's eighteen pence. BARTHWICK. And when your husband earns anything he spends it in drink, I suppose? MRS. JONES. Sometimes he does, sir, and sometimes he gives it to me for the children. Of course he would work if he could get it, sir, but it seems there are a great many people out of work. BARTHWICK. Ah! Yes. We--er--won't go into that. [Sympathetically.] And how about your work here? Do you find it hard? MRS. JONES. Oh! no, sir, not very hard, sir; except of course, when I don't get my sleep at night. BARTHWICK. Ah! And you help do all the rooms? And sometimes, I suppose, you go out for cook? MRS. JONES. Yes, Sir. BARTHWICK. And you 've been out this morning? MRS. JONES. Yes, sir, of course I had to go to the greengrocer's. BARTHWICK. Exactly. So your husband earns nothing? And he's a bad character. MRS. JONES. No, Sir, I don't say that, sir. I think there's a great deal of good in him; though he does treat me very bad sometimes. And of course I don't like to leave him, but I think I ought to, because really I hardly know how to stay with him. He often raises his hand to me. Not long ago he gave me a blow here [touches her breast] and I can feel it now. So I think I ought to leave him, don't you, sir? BARTHWICK. Ah! I can't help you there. It's a very serious thing to leave your husband. Very serious thing. MRS. JONES. Yes, sir, of course I 'm afraid of what he might do to me if I were to leave him; he can be so very violent. BARTHWICK. H'm! Well, that I can't pretend to say anything about. It's the bad principle I'm speaking of---- MRS. JONES. Yes, Sir; I know nobody can help me. I know I must decide for myself, and of course I know that he has a very hard life. And he's fond of the children, and its very hard for him to see them going without food. BARTHWICK. [Hastily.] Well--er--thank you, I just wanted to hear about you. I don't think I need detain you any longer, Mrs. Jones. MRS. JONES. No, sir, thank you, sir. BARTHWICK. Good morning, then.