“’M. I think it was that beastly pudding we had last night. I’ve been awfully sick.” “Poor wretch!” Neither of them paid any attention to Nellie Simmons, who went on plunging and clattering greasy spoons and plates about in the water that steamed from a chipped enamel basin. “Can’t you take this rag, Elsie, and wipe a bit, and let me get upstairs? I’m sure I’m going to be sick again.” “I suppose I must, then--poor me!” “Poor you, when you’ve been out since dinner! I should like to know what for. If it was me, now----Oh, Lord, my head!” “Well, go on upstairs again. Have you tried the new medicine that Ireen’s aunt did the testimonial for?” “Yes, and I don’t believe it’s a bit better than any of the others. I feel like nothing on earth. I say, where were you all the afternoon?” “Curiosity killed the cat,” said Elsie, wiping the plates. “I’m sure I don’t want to know.” “That’s all right then, we’re both satisfied, because I don’t mean to tell you.” Geraldine looked angrily at her sister and walked away, her thin plait of dark hair flapping limply between her angular, slouching shoulders. “What is there for supper to-night, Nellie?” said Elsie presently. “The ’am.” “Oh, goodness, that old ham! Why can’t we ever have anything _nice_, I should like to know! And I s’pose the cold tart’s got to be finished up, and that beastly cold shape?” “That’s right,” Nellie said laconically. “Well, there’ll be no cooking to do, that’s one thing.” “_She_ wants some soup put on, because of the new people, but I’ve left it all ready. I’m off at six sharp, I can tell you.” “What’s the hurry, Nellie?” asked Elsie amicably. She saw that Nellie wanted to be asked, and she felt good-humoured because there was no cooking to be done, and she could lay the supper and ring the bell earlier than usual, so as to be able to keep her appointment with Mr. Roberts. “I’ve got someone waiting for me, I ’ave,” Nellie said importantly. “Couldn’t be kept waiting--oh dear, no!” Elsie looked at the ugly, white-faced Cockney woman, whose teeth projected, decayed and broken, and round the corners of whose mouth and nostrils clung clusters of dry pimples, and burst out laughing. “It’s true!” said Nellie, offended. “And I’m off now.” She went to dry her chapped hands on the limp and dingy roller-towel that hung beside the cold-water tap. Elsie laughed again, partly to tease Nellie Simmons and partly because it really amused her to think that her own projected diversion with Mr. Roberts should be parodied by this grotesque Nellie and some unknown, equally grotesque, companion. Nellie pulled down her hat and coat from the peg on the kitchen door, put them on and went away, although it was quarter of an hour before her time. She knew well enough that none of them would say anything, Elsie reflected. Girls were too difficult to get hold of, when one took in guests.