I had not given my own accommodations a thought in taking my place in the prison. In all institutions of the kind which I had ever been in, each Matron had a nice bed-room to herself, in a comfortable part of the house, and most of them comfortable sitting-rooms attached. It never occurred to me that a female officer, in any public institution, could be requested to occupy such a room. However I could bring myself to it for the sake of carrying out the purpose that induced me to take the place. I stood a moment, and looked all round the room. I then examined the bed. It was clean, and looked comfortable. "Is this all the room, and are these all the comforts we are to have?" I asked of the Receiving Matron. "You see all," she replied. "If we had more, we should have no time to enjoy them." "Rather a sorry prospect if one is to take herself into consideration at all. Is there a bath-room that we can use? To take a bath would be really refreshing, and help me to sleep to-night, I am so tired." "I am tired all of the time, and there is no chance to rest. We must rise at four in the morning, and be on the spring every moment till eight in the evening; you will be on duty till nine, because you receive the keys at that hour." "Every day?" "Every day!" "There is usually a Relief Matron in such institutions, so that the other Matrons can have rest." "There used to be one here; but, instead of that, there is an Assistant Matron in the shop." "Then the Shop Matron has all of the relief, and the others none. Why is that?" "They want to get as much work done in the shop as possible, to support the institution, the Master says. When I get tired, and feel like grumbling, I tell them it is money taken out of our flesh and blood to make the institution rich." "It is probably the way the Master takes to recommend himself to the Board of Directors. They like him for his thrift in managing." "I don't know where the money goes; but I know we are worked to death. I am dying by inches." "Why must I be up an hour later than the rest to receive the keys?" "Because you have them in charge during the night, those that stay in the prison. If you are out, I take them." "Out! What time have I to go out?" "Three evenings in the week, after the prisoners are locked up, if you wish." "What time have I then?" "You can be gone till four o'clock in the morning, if you like." "When shall I sleep?" "You can make your own arrangements for that. Perhaps on the way, if you take a horse car." "I am afraid to go out evenings alone; but in that relief I can get a bath." "I forgot your question about the bath-room. There is none, that I know of, for the officers' use. There is one in the house for the Master's family. I don't know whether the Matrons that lodge there are allowed to use it." "Then some of the Matrons are lodged comfortably in the house. Why is that distinction made?"