I've been obliged to get pretty low for a shilling already."
Mirah's anxiety was quick enough to imagine her father's sinking into a further degradation, which she was bound to hinder if she could. But before she could answer his string of inventive sentences, delivered with as much glibness as if they had been learned by rote, he added promptly,
"Where do you live, Mirah?"
"Here, in this square. We are not far from the house."
"In lodgings?"
"Yes."
"Any one to take care of you?"
"Yes," said Mirah again, looking full at the keen face which was turned toward hers--"my brother."

I've been obliged to get pretty low for a shilling already."
Mirah anxiously imagined her father's sinking into further degradation, which she was bound to prevent if she could. Before she could answer, he said,
"Where do you live, Mirah?"
"Here, in this square."
"In lodgings?"
"Yes."
"Anyone to take care of you?"
"Yes," said Mirah again, looking full at the keen face - "my brother."
