Nourishment and rest somewhat restored the woman, and to give her and the children a chance I took for them a larger house.

I sent them bedding and furniture, the house being repaired and repainted, for the previous tenant had allowed it to take fire, but the fire had not been successful enough! I called on the family at midday, and as I stood in the room, bugs dropped from the ceiling upon me.

The widow's work was covered with them; night and day the pests worried the family, there was no escaping them; I had to fly, and again remove the family.

How can the poor be clean and self-respecting under such conditions! For be it known this is the normal condition of thousands of human habitations in London's great underworld.

How can cleanliness and self-respect survive?
Yet sometimes they do survive, but at a terrible cost, for more and still more of the weekly income must go in rent, which means less and still less for food and clothing.