door, with some civility which we learned to distrust as a mere
pretext for extorting more money, yet which it was difficult to
refuse: such as the offer of any books out of his library, a great
temptation, for we could see into the shelf-lined room; but just as
we were on the point of yielding, there was a hint of the
"consideration" to be expected for the loan of books of so much
higher a class than any to be obtained at the circulating library,
which made us suddenly draw back. Another time he came out of his
den to offer us written cards, to distribute among our acquaintance,
on which he undertook to teach the very things I was to learn; but I
would rather have been the most ignorant woman that ever lived than
tried to learn anything from that old fox in breeches. When we had
declined all his proposals, he went apparently into dudgeon. Once
when we had forgotten our latch-key we rang in vain for many times at
the door, seeing our landlord standing all the time at the window to
the right, looking out of it in an absent and philosophical state of
mind, from which no signs and gestures of ours could arouse him.

The women of the household were far better, and more really
respectable, though even on them poverty had laid her heavy left
hand, instead of her blessing right. Miss Mackenzie kept us as short
in our food as she decently could--we paid so much a week for our
board, be it observed; and if one day we had less appetite than
another our meals were docked to the smaller standard, until Miss
Duncan ventured to remonstrate. The sturdy maid-of-all-work was
scrupulously honest, but looked discontented, and scarcely vouchsafed
us thanks, when on leaving we gave her what Mrs. Dawson had told us
would be considered handsome in most lodgings. I do not believe
Phenice ever received wages from the Mackenzies.