The lady who had admitted them was the mistress; a Junoesque, superior, languid sort of personage, in a loose dressing-gown of pink silk with long train.

To her Matilda made known their desire.
"Excuse me, Mr.Pyecroft," she called to the clergyman.

"So you and your friend want board and room," the landlady repeated in a drawling tone, yet studying them sharply with heavy-penciled eyes.

"I run a select house, so I've got to be careful about whom I admit.
Consequently you will not object to answering a few questions.

You and your friend are working-women ?" "Yes." The heavy eyes had concluded their inventory.