“I'll be careful,” she answered. “May I come?”

“Ay, come if you like.”

She gathered her skirts, lowered her foot to the side of the boat, and leapt down, laughing. Coal-dust flew up.

The woman came to the door. She was plump and sandy-haired, young, with an odd, stubby nose.

“Oh, you will make a mess of yourself,” she cried, surprised and laughing with a little wonder.

“I did want to see. Isn't it lovely living on a barge?” asked Ursula.

“I don't live on one altogether,” said the woman cheerfully.

“She's got her parlour an' her plush suite in Loughborough,”