human
You won't be wanting to go out to-night;--will you, Mrs. Hurtle? said Mrs. Pipkin, knocking at her lodger's door. Mrs. Hurtle declared her purpose of remaining at home all the evening.
gpt
If you should hear words between me and my niece, don't you mind, ma'am.
human
I hope there's nothing wrong, Mrs. Pipkin?
gpt
She'll be wanting to go out, and I won't have it. It isn't right; is it, ma'am? She's a good girl; but they've got such a way nowadays of doing just as they pleases, that one doesn't know what's going to come next.
human
I'm just going to step out, aunt, for a little time to-night. I've got the key, and I'll let myself in quite quiet.
gpt
Indeed, Ruby, you won't,
human
Won't what, aunt?
gpt
Won't let yourself in, if you go out. If you go out to-night you'll stay out. That's all about it. If you go out to-night you won't come back here any more. I won't have it, and it isn't right that I should. You're going after that young man that they tell me is the greatest scamp in all England.
human
They tell you lies then, Aunt Pipkin.
gpt
Very well. No girl is going out any more at nights out of my house; so that's all about it. If you had told me you was going before, you needn't have gone up and bedizened yourself. For now it's all to take off again.
human
I've a right to go if I like,
gpt
That's as you think. You haven't a right to come back again, any way.
human
Yes, I have. I've worked for you a deal harder than the girl down-stairs, and I don't want no wages. I've a right to go out, and a right to come back;--and go I shall.
gpt
You'll be no better than you should be, if you do.
human
Am I to work my very nails off, and push that perambulator about all day till my legs won't carry me,--and then I ain't to go out, not once in a week?
gpt
Not unless I know more about it, Ruby. I won't have you go and throw yourself into the gutter;--not while you're with me.
human
Who's throwing themselves into the gutter? I've thrown myself into no gutter. I know what I'm about.
gpt
There's two of us that way, Ruby;--for I know what I'm about.
human
I shall just go then.
gpt
You won't get out that way, any way, for the door's locked;--and the area gate. You'd better be said, Ruby, and just take your things off.
human
Aunt Pipkin, she said,
gpt
No, Ruby;--it ain't proper.
human
You don't know what you're a' doing of, aunt; you don't. You'll ruin me,--you will. Dear Aunt Pipkin, do, do! I'll never ask again, if you don't like.
gpt
It ain't the thing, Ruby; and I won't do it.
human
And I'm to be--a prisoner! What have I done to be--a prisoner? I don't believe as you've any right to lock me up.
gpt
I've a right to lock my own doors.
human
Then I shall go away to-morrow.
gpt
I can't help that, my dear. The door will be open to-morrow, if you choose to go out.
human
Then why not open it to-night? Where's the difference?
gpt
She's gone to bed,
human
I'm glad to hear it. There wasn't any noise about it;--was there?
gpt
Not as I expected, Mrs. Hurtle, certainly. But she was put out a bit. Poor girl! I've been a girl too, and used to like a bit of outing as well as any one,--and a dance too; only it was always when mother knew. She ain't got a mother, poor dear! and as good as no father. And she's got it into her head that she's that pretty that a great gentleman will marry her.
human
She is pretty!
gpt
But what's beauty, Mrs. Hurtle? It's no more nor skin deep, as the scriptures tell us. And what'd a grand gentleman see in Ruby to marry her? She says she'll leave to-morrow.
human
And where will she go?
gpt
Just nowhere. After this gentleman,--and you know what that means! You're going to be married yourself, Mrs. Hurtle.
human
We won't mind about that now, Mrs. Pipkin.
gpt
And this 'll be your second, and you know how these things are managed. No gentleman 'll marry her because she runs after him. Girls as knows what they're about should let the gentlemen run after them. That's my way of looking at it.
human
Don't you think they should be equal in that respect?
gpt
Anyways the girls shouldn't let on as they are running after the gentlemen. A gentleman goes here and he goes there, and he speaks up free, of course. In my time, girls usen't to do that. But then, maybe, I'm old-fashioned,
human
I suppose girls do speak for themselves more than they did formerly.
gpt
A deal more, Mrs. Hurtle; quite different. You hear them talk of spooning with this fellow, and spooning with that fellow,--and that before their very fathers and mothers! When I was young we used to do it, I suppose,--only not like that.
human
You did it on the sly.
gpt
I think we got married quicker than they do, any way. When the gentlemen had to take more trouble they thought more about it. But if you wouldn't mind speaking to Ruby to-morrow, Mrs. Hurtle, she'd listen to you when she wouldn't mind a word I said to her. I don't want her to go away from this, out into the street, till she knows where she's to go to, decent. As for going to her young man,--that's just walking the streets.