“Well?” said Mr. Shatov. The light was going down. “ What is this?” he asked staring up impatiently at the lessening flame. “Ah it is simply stupid .” He hurried away and Miriam heard his voice shouting down to Mrs. Bailey from the staircase as he went, and presently in polite loud-toned remonstrance from the top of the basement stairs. The gas went up, higher than it had been before. It must be eleven. It was not fair to keep the gas going for two people. She must wind up the sitting and send him away.
“What a piece of English stupidity,” he bellowed gently, coming back across the room.
“I suppose she is obliged to do it,” said Miriam feeling incriminated by her failure to resent the proceeding in the past.
“How obliged ?”
“She has had an awful time. She was left penniless in Weymouth.”
“That is bad; but it is no cause for stupidity .”
“I know. She doesn’t understand. She managed quite well with lodgers; she will never make boarders pay. It’s no use giving her hints. The house is full of people who don’t pay their bills. There are people here who have