“Yes, only it is the employers who are now on view!” said Florence snappily. “I don’t know whether that makes it either worse—or better,” Lucy answered, drawing Hugh closer to her side. The next moment a tall raw-boned woman with a forbidding countenance stepped up and bluntly asked, “Are you wantin’ a general servant?” “Yes, I am,” Lucy replied, her heart sinking within her. “I’m looking for a place. What wages do you give?” Lucy named the sum she had paid Pollie. “That’s not very high for a general,” observed the woman. “It is a very quiet situation,” said Lucy. “H’m!—out in some country place, I suppose?” “No,” answered Lucy, “my house is in Bloomsbury.” She was cowed into giving answers when she should rather have retorted by questions. Really she did not want to question this woman, or to have anything to do with her. Yet in this place she had not courage to say so. Mrs. Brand did not come to the rescue. “Bloomsbury houses are pretty big—too big for one woman.” “Mine is a small house,” faltered Lucy. “How many in family?” “Only two,” Lucy answered; “myself and this little boy.” “D’ye expect me to do the washing?” Lucy was ready to cry out that she did not “expect” her to do anything, except to go away! But she was so demoralised that she meekly replied— “My last servant did the washing, with help; but if I get one who suits me in other ways, I am willing to put the washing out.” “Are you a widder, then?” Lucy’s heart thumped. “No, my husband is on a long voyage.” “A ship-captain is he?” “No, he is travelling for his health. He will be at home within the year.” An expression came into the woman’s insolent eye, which Lucy did not understand, though it made her feel hot. The woman gave her head a significant little wag. It meant something apart from what she said, though her words were insolent enough. “I reckon there won’t be much regular cooking in your place. There never is, where there isn’t a proper master. I don’t think your place will suit me.” “I am sure it will not!” said Lucy quietly. One or two tawdry girls who had come up to listen to this colloquy nudged each other and laughed at the discomfiture of their fellow-worker. “Well, you’ve got rid of her,” observed Florence. “The idea of her asking all those questions! What right have they to know anything except the work which will be required of them and the wages they are to get?” “I don’t say that,” said Lucy. “Before a woman accepts a place, I think she has a right to know whether it is quite respectable—and many little details beside. But she might have waited till I had first put some questions to her. Fancy, if I had behaved so when I went, a stranger, to look after the first appointment I had at the Institute!” Florence made an impatient gesture.