I was certain I was on the brink of poverty, going to the poorhouse.我确信自己已处在贫困的边缘，马上就要进济贫院了。Nothing was done to save these women from the twin evils of begging or the workhouse.当时并没有采取任何行动来把这些妇女从乞讨或济贫院同样水深火热的苦海中解救出来。The workhouse was seen as an asylum for the poor.济贫院被视为穷人的庇护所。