Wilkie Collins

“ Reaching the hall just as the lady said her last words, I caught a glimpse of her face, and discovered the middle-aged stranger who had called on “Miss Jillgall,” and had promised to repeat her visit. A second lady was at the door, with her back to me, taking leave of her friend. Having said good-by, she turned round—and we confronted each other.
I found her to be a little person, wiry and active; past the prime of life, and ugly enough to encourage prejudice, in persons who take a superficial view of their fellow-creatures. ”

“ The Lively Old Maid A perfect stranger to the interior of the house (seeing that my experience began and ended with the Minister’s bedchamber) , I descended the stairs, in the character of a guest in search of domestic information.
On my way down, I heard the door of a room on the ground floor opened, and a woman’s voice below, speaking in a hurry: “My dear, I have not a moment to spare; my patients are waiting for me.” This was followed by a confidential communication, judging by the tone. “Mind! not a word about me to that old gentleman!” ”