midday
She had neither kith nor kin , nor friends , nor even acquaintances ; but , being something of a miser , scraped and screwed to amass money she had no need for , and dwelt in a wretched little apartment in a back slum , whence she daily issued to work little and pilfer much . Usually at nine o'clock she brought in her employer 's breakfast from the Nelson Hotel , which was outside the Square , and while he was enjoying it in bed , after his fashion , she cleaned out and made tidy the sitting-room . Berwin then dressed and went out for a walk , despite Miss Greeb 's contention that he took the air only at night , like an owl , and during his absence Mrs. Kebby attended to the bedroom . She then went about her own business , which was connected with the cleaning of various other apartments , and only returned at midday and at night to lay the table for Berwin 's luncheon and dinner , or rather dinner and supper , which were also sent in from the hotel . For these services Berwin paid her well , and only enjoined her to keep a quiet tongue about his private affairs , which Mrs. Kebby usually did until excited by too copious drams of gin , when she talked freely and unwisely to all the servants in the Square . It was to her observation and invention that Berwin owed his bad reputation . Well-known in every kitchen , Mrs. Kebby hobbled from one to the other , gossiping about the various affairs of her various employers ; and when absolute knowledge failed she took to inventing details which did no small credit to her imagination .