"Whatever am I to do Mrs. Egleton?" she cried despairingly. "I suppose I
could join Huddy's company again. Huddy I know would be glad enough to
have me but----"
"Pray don't be silly," put in the experienced Mrs. Egleton. "It would be
lowering yourself. Rich would think you're not worth more than he's been
paying you and that's little enough--fifteen shillings a week. Good
Lord, how does he imagine a woman of our profession can live on that?"
"It's because of our profession that he parts with so little. He has a
notion that we can make it up," rejoined Lavinia sarcastically.
"You never said a truer word than that, my dear. Thank God I've my
husband, but _you_--well you'd better take a husband too or as nearly as
you can get to one."
Lavinia shrugged her shoulders disdainfully.
"Why not go to Hampstead? Heaps of money there and plenty of life. Bless
my heart alive, with that taking face of yours the men would be after
you like flies round a honey-pot."
"I've no fancy for figuring as a honey-pot, thank you."
"Well, I can think of nothing else."
The mention of Hampstead was suggestive, but not in the way insinuated
by Mrs. Egleton. Half fashionable London flocked to Hampstead in the
summer, ostensibly to drink the water of the medicinal spring, but
really to gamble, to dance and to flirt outrageously. There was plenty
of entertainment too, of various sorts.
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