Thereupon Emmeline added that, of course, the young lady would discharge her own laundress's bill.

To this also Mrs.Higgins readily assented.
'A hundred and sixty pounds per annum!' Emmeline kept repeating to herself.

And, alas! it looked as if she might have asked much more.
The reference difficulty might be minimised by naming her own married sister, who lived at Blackheath, and Clarence's most intimate friend, Mr.Tarling, who held a good position in a City house, and had a most respectable address at West Kensington.

But her heart misgave her.

She dreaded her husband's return home.
The conversation was prolonged for half-an-hour.