when you get a crowd, and no father and mother, and no proper family
feeling, I suppose there's got to be Rules."

Lady Harman pointed out various advantages of the project.

"I'm not saying it isn't cheap and healthy and social," said Susan, "and
if it isn't too strict I expect you'll get plenty of girls to come to
it, but at the best it's an Institution, Lady Harman. It's going to be
an Institution. That's what it's going to be."

She held the front elevation of the Bloomsbury Hostel in her hand and
reflected.

"Of course for my part, I'd rather lodge with nice struggling believing
Christian people anywhere than go into a place like that. It's the
feeling of freedom, of being yourself and on your own. Even if the water
wasn't laid on and I had to fetch it myself.... If girls were paid
properly there wouldn't be any need of such places, none at all. It's
the poverty makes 'em what they are.... And after all, somebody's got to
lose the lodgers if this place gets them. Suppose this sort of thing
grows up all over the place, it'll just be the story of the little
bakers and little grocers and all those people over again. Why in London
there are thousands of people just keep a home together by letting two
or three rooms or boarding someone--and it stands to reason, they'll
have to take less or lose the lodgers if this kind of thing's going to
be done. Nobody isn't going to build a Hostel for them."

"No," said Lady Harman, "I never thought of them."

"Lots of 'em haven't anything in the world but their bits of furniture
and their lease and there they are stuck and tied. There's Aunt Hannah,
Father's sister, she's like that. Sleeps in the basement and works and
slaves, and often I've had to lend her ten shillings to pay the rent
with, through her not being full. This sort of place isn't going to do
much good to her."

Lady Harman surveyed the plan rather blankly. "I suppose it isn't."

"And then if you manage this sort of place easy and attractive, it's
going to draw girls away from their homes. There's girls like Alice
who'd do anything to get a bit of extra money to put on their backs and
seem to think of nothing but chattering and laughing and going about.
Such a place like this would be fine fun for Alice; in when she liked
and out when she liked, and none of us to ask her questions. She'd be
just the sort to go, and mother, who's had the upbringing of her, how's
she to make up for Alice's ten shillings what sh