Mrs. 'Arris is a cockney character who is constantly getting herself into situations and misunderstandings. She lives by scrounging from her neighbours (or borrowing as she puts it). She gets the wrong-end-of-the-stick when she is taken (for instance) to the theatre or to a cricket match and totally ruins a seance. The book is written in cod cockney "The 'ouse nex' door to me," remarked Mrs.'Arris," 'as been empty for some time or even longer,so when some noo people moved in yesterday I were naturally interested,'oping they'd be of a sociable disposition."
You get the idea. Quite amusing in small doses. ( )