It lay loosely inside its sham mahogany casing like the shrivelled kernel of a nut in its shell.
"The big coal-scuttle really doesn't hold twopenny-worth more coal than the others," observed Miss Bunting tentatively.
A dull flush mounted to Mrs.Lawrence's cheek.

She liked the prospect of screwing an extra twopence out of one of her boarders, but she hated having the fact so clearly pointed out to her.

There were times when she found Miss Bunting's conscientiousness something of a trial.
"It's a much larger box," she protested sharply.
"Yes.

I know it is--outside.

But the lining only holds two more knobs than the sixpenny ones." Mrs.Lawrence frowned.
"Do I understand that you--you actually measured the amount it contains ?" she asked, with bitterness.
"Yes," retorted Miss Bunting valiantly.