"I was not aware that references were necessary." To the clerk's surprise the contractor took up the burden of the inquiry. "We are very particular," he said, with a frown, "about the character of the persons we employ, and references, therefore, _are_ necessary." "I did not know," said Mrs. Lenoir, in so low a tone that the words scarcely reached their ears; and turned to depart. "Stop a moment," said the contractor; "what did you come here for?" "For work," with a motion of the hands, deprecating the question as unnecessary. "You want it?" "Else I should not be here." It by no means displeased the contractor that this woman, suing to him for work, should unconsciously have adopted in her last reply an air of haughtiness. "You want work badly, I infer?" "I want it badly." "You have applied elsewhere?" "I have." "Unsuccessfully?" "Unsuccessfully." "From what cause?" "I do not know." "You have no other means of support?" "None." "If you are unsuccessful in this application, what will you do?" Mrs. Lenoir did not reply to this question. Had the contractor known what was in the woman's mind, he would have been startled out of his propriety. She had been in London for nearly six months, and although she had been indefatigable in her endeavours, had not succeeded in obtaining a day's work. All her resources were exhausted, and she saw nothing but starvation before her. She was wearied and sick with trying, and she pined for rest or work. She must obtain either the one or the other. A vague fear oppressed her that if she were unsuccessful in this application she would be compelled, when the night came, to walk to the river, and gaze upon the restful waters. Then the end would come; she felt that she had not strength to resist it. The contractor resumed his questioning; it was a kind of angling he seemed to enjoy. "Have you no friends?" "No." "Relatives?" "No." "Money?" "No." "You are alone in the world?" "I am alone in the world." "Then if I employ you, I should be your only friend?" "I suppose so." "As a rule," proceeded the contractor, "we do not employ ladies in this establishment, which gives employment to----how many persons do I give employment to, Mr. Williams?" addressing the clerk. "There are eleven hundred and seventy-two names upon the books, sir." The hard taskmaster nodded his head with exceeding satisfaction. "I provide bread for eleven hundred and seventy-two persons, and by to-morrow this number will be increased by two hundred. I have given employment to over two thousand persons at one time, I believe, Mr. Williams?" "You have, sir." "And shall do so again, I have no doubt, before long. To repeat, I do not employ ladies in this establishment. Common girls and women are good enough for me--and bad enough. For there is absolutely no gratitude to be found among the poorer classes, absolutely no gratitude; not a particle."