Part 4 (2/2)
Connie followed her companion. They went down several side-streets, and took several short cuts. They pa.s.sed through the roughest and worst part of the purlieus at the back of Westminster. At last they entered a broader thoroughfare, and there Agnes stopped.
”Why, yer never be livin' here?” asked Connie.
”No, I bean't. You'll come to my 'ome afterwards. I want to take yer to see a lydy as maybe'll take a fancy to yer.”
”Oh!” said Connie, feeling both excited and full of wonder.
The girls entered a side pa.s.sage, and presently Connie, to her astonishment, found herself going upwards--up and up and up--in a lift.
The lift went up as far as it would go. The girls got out. Agnes went first, and Connie followed. They walked down the pa.s.sage, and Agnes gave a very neat double knock on the door, which looked like an ordinary front door to a house.
The door was opened by a woman rather loudly dressed, but with a handsome face.
”How do you do, Mrs. Warren?” said Agnes. ”I ha' brought the young lydy I spoke to yer about. Shall us both come in?”
”Oh, yes, certainly,” said Mrs. Warren.
She stood aside, and Connie, still following her companion, found herself at the other side of the neat door. The place inside was bright with electric light, and the stout, showily dressed lady, going first, conducted the girls into a room which Agnes afterwards spoke of as the dining-room. The lady sat down in a very comfortable arm-chair, crossed her legs, and desired Connie to come forward and show herself.
”Take off yer 'at,” she said.
Connie did so.
”You're rather pretty.”
Connie was silent.
”I want,” said the stout woman, ”a pretty gel, something like you, to come and sit with me from ten to two o'clock hevery day. Yer dooties'll be quite light, and I'll give yer lots o' pretty clothes and good wages.”
”But what'll I have to do?” asked Connie.
”Jest to sit with me an' keep me company; I'm lonesome here all by myself.”
Connie looked puzzled.
”You ask wot wages yer'll get,” said Agnes, poking Connie on the arm.
Connie's blue eyes looked up. The showy lady was gazing at her very intently.
”I'll give yer five s.h.i.+llin's a week,” she said, ”and yer keep, and some carst-off clothes--my own--now and again; and ef that bean't a bargain, I don't know wot be.”
Connie was silent.
”You 'ad best close with it,” said Agnes. ”It's a charnce once in a 'undred. Yer'll be very 'appy with Mrs. Warren--her's a real lydy.”
”Yes, that I be,” said Mrs. Warren. ”I come of a very hold family. My ancestors come hover with William the Conqueror.”
Connie did not seem impressed by this fact.
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