Herecomesthethriftyhousewifeofthepoor，towhomthedifferenceofatenthofapennyinthepriceofacabbageisall—important，andthemuchharassedkeeperofthepettypension。TherearehousesinBrusselswheretheywillfeedyou，lightyou，sleepyou，waitonyou，fortwofrancsaday。Witheredoldladies，ancientgovernesses，whowillteachyouforfortycentimesanhour，gatherroundtheserickettytables，wolfupthethinsoup，grumbleatthewaterycoffee，helpthemselveswithunladylikegreedinesstothepotatopie。Itmustneedcarefulhousewiferytokeepthesepoorcreaturesontwofrancsadayandmakeaprofitforyourself。So\"Madame，\"themuch—
grumbled—at，whohasgonetobedabouttwelve，risesalittlebeforefive，makesherwaydownwithherbasket。Thusafewsousmaybesavedupontheday’seconomies。
Sometimesitisamerechildwhoisthelittlehousekeeper。Onethinksthatperhapsthisearlytrainingintheartofhagglingmaynotbegoodforher。Alreadythereisahardexpressioninthechildisheyes，meanlinesaboutthelittlemouth。Thefinerqualitiesofhumanityareexpensiveluxuries，nottobeaffordedbythepoor。
Theyoverworktheirpatientdogs，andunderfeedthem。Duringthetwohours’marketthepoorbeasts，stillfastenedtotheirlittle\"chariots，\"restintheopenspaceabouttheneighbouringBourse。
Theysnatchatwhatyouthrowthem;theydonoteventhankyouwithawagofthetail。Gratitude！Politeness！Whatmeanyou？Wehavenotheardofsuch。Weonlywork。Someofthemamidallthedinliesleepingbetweentheirshafts。Somearelickingoneanother’ssores。