Suppose she were like the misers she had read of in books, who lived in the gutter, and owned terraces of houses?
For a moment Ada saw herself riding in a carriage, with rings on every finger, and feathers in her hat, with the childlike faith of the ignorant in the marvellous.
But Mrs Yabsley was studying some strange hieroglyphics like Chinese, pencilled on the cupboard.

She knitted her brows in the agony of calculation.
"I can lay me 'ands on thirty pounds in solid cash," she announced.
She spoke as if it were a million.

Jonah cried out in amazement; Ada felt disappointed.
"W'ere is it, Mum?
In the bank ?" asked Jonah.
"No fear," said Mrs Yabsley, with a crafty smile.

"It's as safe as a church.

I was niver fool enough ter put my money in the bank.