She lives by herself, and supports herself by working in a laundry.

For all this, she is by no means the ordinary London work-girl; you can't call her educated, but she speaks purely, and has a remarkably good intelligence.

I met her by chance, and kept up her acquaintance.

There has been nothing wrong--bah! how conventional one is, in spite of oneself!--I mean to say there has been nothing more than a pleasant friendship between us; absolutely nothing.

We see each other from time to time, and have a walk, perhaps a meal, together, and I lend her books.