Mrs. Jones.  Eight years ago, sir that was in——­

Mrs. Barthwick. [Sharply.] Eight?  You said the eldest child was nine.

Mrs. Jones.  Yes, ma’am; of course that was why he lost his place.  He did n’t treat me rightly, and of course his employer said he couldn’t keep him because of the example.

Barthwick.  You mean he—­ahem——­

Mrs. Jones.  Yes, sir; and of course after he lost his place he married me.

Mrs. Barthwick.  You actually mean to say you—­you were——­

Barthwick.  My dear——­

Mrs. Barthwick. [Indignantly.] How disgraceful!

Barthwick. [Hurriedly.] And where are you living now, Mrs. Jones?

Mrs. Jones.  We’ve not got a home, sir.  Of course we’ve been obliged to put away most of our things.

Barthwick.  Put your things away!  You mean to—­to—­er—­to pawn them?

Mrs. Jones.  Yes, sir, to put them away.  We’re living in Merthyr Street—­that is close by here, sir—­at No. 34.  We just have the one room.

Barthwick.  And what do you pay a week?

Mrs. Jones.  We pay six shillings a week, sir, for a furnished room.

Barthwick.  And I suppose you’re behind in the rent?

Mrs. Jones.  Yes, sir, we’re a little behind in the rent.

Barthwick.  But you’re in good work, aren’t you?

Mrs. Jones.  Well, Sir, I have a day in Stamford Place Thursdays.  And Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays I come here.  But to-day, of course, is a half-day, because of yesterday’s Bank Holiday.

Barthwick.  I see; four days a week, and you get half a crown a day, is that it?

Mrs. Jones.  Yes, sir, and my dinner; but sometimes it’s only half a day, and that’s eighteen pence.

Barthwick.  And when your husband earns anything he spends it in drink, I suppose?

Mrs. Jones.  Sometimes he does, sir, and sometimes he gives it to me for the children.  Of course he would work if he could get it, sir, but it seems there are a great many people out of work.

Barthwick.  Ah!  Yes.  We—­er—­won’t go into that. [Sympathetically.] And how about your work here?  Do you find it hard?

Mrs. Jones.  Oh! no, sir, not very hard, sir; except of course, when I don’t get my sleep at night.

Barthwick.  Ah!  And you help do all the rooms?  And sometimes, I suppose, you go out for cook?

Mrs. Jones.  Yes, Sir.

Barthwick.  And you ’ve been out this morning?

Mrs. Jones.  Yes, sir, of course I had to go to the greengrocer’s.

Barthwick.  Exactly.  So your husband earns nothing?  And he’s a bad character.