The People's Economics

15-year-old Elena goes to stay with a relative of her teacher. Her host runs a B&B and when Elena she gets there she finds that she is expected to sleep in the kitchen, get up at 6.30 a.m. to make breakfast for the B&B guests and wash up after evening meal. I can't help thinking that nowadays she'd be on the next ferry home complaining of exploitation. But in the book no one (least of all Elena herself) thinks of this as anything but a leisurely vacation.