Hers were the children; her husband had been dead a year or more.

She was about thirty years of age, and had a slatternly appearance; her face was peevish, and seemed to grudge the half-smile with which it received the visitor.
'You've no need to look round you,' she said.

'We're in & regular pig-stye, and likely to be.

Where's there a chair ?' She shook some miscellaneous articles on to the floor to provide a seat.
'For mercy's sake don't speak too loud, and wake them children.

Bertie's had the earache; he's been crying all day.