Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/24

 the others, but less vivid in her mind at this moment—in the next room lay awaiting burial the corpse of Mrs. Peckover's mother-in-law, whose death six days ago had plunged mother and daughter into profound delight, partly because they were relieved at length from making pretence of humanity to a bed-ridden old woman, partly owing to the fact that the deceased had left behind her a sum of seventy-five pounds, exclusive of moneys due from a burial-club.

"Ah!" exclaimed Miss Peckover (who was affectionately known to her intimates as "Clem"), as she watched Jane stagger back from the blow and hide her face in silent endurance of pain. "That's just a morsel to stay your appetite, my lady! You didn't expect me back 'ome at this time, did you? You thought as you was goin' to 'ave the kitchen to yourself when mother went. Ha ha! ho ho!—These sausages is done; now you clean that fiyin'-pan; and if I can find a speck of dirt in it as big as 'arf a farden, I'll take you by the 'air of