The economic arrangements which turned Paulina's room into a public dormitory were abhorrent to the Irish woman's sense of decency.

Often had she turned the full tide of her voluble invective upon Paulina, who, though conscious that all was not well--for no one could mistake the flash of Mrs.Fitzpatrick's eye nor the stridency of her voice--received Mrs.Fitzpatrick's indignant criticism with a patient smile.

Mrs.Fitzpatrick, despairing of success in her efforts with Paulina, called in the aid of Anka Kusmuk, who, as domestic in the New West Hotel where Mrs.Fitzpatrick served as charwoman two days in the week, had become more or less expert in the colloquial English of her environment.

Together they laboured with Paulina, but with little effect.

She was quite unmoved, because quite unconscious, of moral shock.