"I knocked a man down before now with this, and I have no respect for women.

You'd better not anger me, Mrs.Timms." "Oh, dear no, miss, I'm sure I meant no disrespect!" "That's right.

Don't say what you don't mean in future." "I won't, Miss Josephine.

Now I come to think of it, I expect Hart is at home; I heard him shuffling about overhead last night." "I'll go up and see," said Josephine.
She nodded to Mrs.Timms, and walked slowly, as though she were dead tired, and every step was an effort to her, up the stairs.

They were rickety stairs, very dirty and dark, and unkept.