In the Cage

This novella follows the life of a nameless telegraphist at Cocker's and her relation to the people who play an important role in her life. As the title indicates, she works inside a cage, trapped behind the bars because of her involvement with the customers that visit the shop. The protagonist's decisions are shaped by the sense of power her position provides and what we could define as an overdeveloped imagination, influenced by the 'ha'penny' novels she is constantly reading. Despite being aware of this fact, the reader cannot but get lured by the young woman's ensuing perceptions and so share her surprise at the end.