The Odd Women by George Gissing
page 59 of 595 (09%)
page 59 of 595 (09%)
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to get a place as a lady's-maid at twenty-five pounds a year--at
Scotcher's she had fifteen. But we heard that she burst a blood-vessel, and now she's in the hospital at Brompton.' 'Delightful story! Haven't you an early-closing day?' 'They had before I went there; but only for about three months. Then the agreement broke down.' 'Like the assistants. A pity the establishment doesn't follow suit.' 'But you wouldn't say so, Miss Nunn, if you knew how terribly hard it is for many girls to find a place, even now.' 'I know it perfectly well. And I wish it were harder. I wish girls fell down and died of hunger in the streets, instead of creeping to their garrets and the hospitals. I should like to see their dead bodies collected together in some open place for the crowd to stare at.' Monica gazed at her with wide eyes. 'You mean, I suppose, that people would try to reform things.' 'Who knows? Perhaps they might only congratulate each other that a few of the superfluous females had been struck off. Do they give you any summer holiday?' 'A week, with salary continued.' |
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