Battleby at home?" asked the stranger in her turn. "Who do you please to want, Ma'am?" she inquired. It was a dark night, and all she could distinguish at first was, that a female figure stood on the door steps. Battleby left the lower regions and ascended to answer the hall door. "'Ere 'Liza, 'and me over that clean apron do, and don't stand gaping at me there! I declare, you put me ever so much in mind of that great, hulking fool, Hannah Stubbs, which I've never forgiven 'er mother to this day for putting her upon me! It might be someone arter the hattics, for I've known 'em to come, when pressed, as late as ten o'clock at night, Now! go on with your washing-up, and don't be a'follerin' me to hear what they may say, for it's no concern of yourn any way." Saying which, Mrs. "Now! 'oo on hearth can that be calling at this time o' night?" she exclaimed testily, as she wiped her hands on her canvas apron. Battleby was helping her wretched drudge to wash up the miscellaneous assortment of plates, dishes, cups, saucers and tumblers, sent down by her various lodgers, and harrying the girl's soul out, by constant adjurations to make more haste, she was startled by the sound of a loud double knock on the front door. A Few weeks after the events related in the last chapter, as Mrs. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text.
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