Clara Hopgood

'I am afraid, though, Mrs Caffyn, there must be something radically

wrong with that family. I suppose you know all about the eldest

daughter?' 'Yes, sir, I HAVE heard it: it wouldn't be Great Oakhurst if I

hadn't, but p'r'aps, sir, you've never been upstairs in that house,

and yet a house it isn't. There's just two sleeping-rooms, that's

all; it's shameful, it isn't decent. Well, that gal, she goes away

to service. Maybe, sir, them premises at the farm are also unbeknown

to you. In the back kitchen there's a broadish sort of shelf as Jim

climbs into o' nights, and it has a rail round it to keep you from a-

falling out, and there's a ladder as they draws up in the day as goes

straight up from that kitchen to the gal's bedroom door. It's

downright disgraceful, and I don't believe the Lord A'mighty would be

marciful to neither of US if we was tried like that.'

Mrs Caffyn bethought herself of the 'us' and was afraid that even she

had gone a little too far; 'leastways, speaking for myself, sir,' she

added.

The rector turned rather red, and repented his attempt to enlist Mrs

Caffyn.

'If the temptations are so great, Mrs Caffyn, that is all the more

reason why those who are liable to them should seek the means which

are provided in order that they may be overcome. I believe the

Polesdens are very lax attendants at church, and I don't think they

ever communicated.'

Mrs Polesden at that moment came in for an ounce of tea, and as Mrs

Caffyn rose to weigh it, the rector departed with a stiff 'good-

morning,' made to do duty for both women.