He had us in a line in his parlour, the master. It’s the room he uses to entertain his fancy friends. Must be killing him to have the likes of us all in there at once. There’s six of us. I’ve been working in this house for a couple of years. I’ve seen him make his way through the younger girls, grabbing them when he saw fit. Can’t imagine how his wife doesn’t know what he’s up to.
He’s looking for his gold watch and a silver pair of buckles. Says he knows one of us lowlife Dublin misfits took them. Franny took them. I watched her do it. She’s been working for him for more than ten years in this house, and she’s still poor. She sold them to buy medicine for her sick mammy. Franny’s mammy must be ancient, cos we think Franny is really old.
He strides along the line of us girls, glaring. I’
