Echoes of the War — James Matthew Barrie

They are all London charwomen but three of them including the hostess are what are called professionally lsquo charwomen and lsquo or simply lsquo ands An lsquo and is also a caretaker when required her name is entered as such in ink in a registry book financial transactions take place across a counter between her and the registrar and altogether she is of a very different social status from one who like Mrs Haggerty is a charwoman but nothing else Mrs Haggerty though present is not at the party by invitation having seen Mrs Dowey buying the winkles she followed her downstairs so has shuffled into the play and sat down in it against our wish We would remove her by force or at least print her name in small letters were it not that she takes offence very readily and says that nobody respects her So as you have slipped in you sit there Mrs Haggerty but keep quiet