How gunpowder do pay, to be sure!" "Lor, ma'am, why, don't you know," replied Mrs.Shanks, with some contempt, "that the man with three ribs is the captain of the gunners--the man in my back sitting-room?
No dimity-parlour for him with his family, not for a guinea and a half a week.

But if I was to tell you who the gentleman is, and one of the highest all round these parts, truthful as you know me, Mrs.Cheeseman, you would say to yourself, what a liar she is!" "Mrs.Shanks, I never use coarse expressions, even to myself in private.
And perhaps I could tell you a thing or two would astonish you more than me, ma'am.

Suppose I should tell you, to begin with, who your guinea lodger is ?" "That you could never do, Mrs.Cheeseman, with all your time a-counting changes.

He is not of the rank for a twopenny rasher, or a wedge of cheese packed in old petticoat." These two ladies now looked at one another.

They had not had a quarrel for almost three months, and a large arrear of little pricks on either side was pending.