'I don't say as that is everything, but if you wish me to tell you
the truth, Miss Madge is not a person as I like to keep in the house.
I wish you to know'--Mrs Cork suddenly became excited and venomous--
'that I'm a respectable woman, and have always let my apartments to
respectable people, and do you think I should ever let them to
respectable people again if it got about as I had had anybody as
wasn't respectable? Where was she last night? And do you suppose as
me as has been a married woman can't see the condition she's in? I
say as you, Mrs Hopgood, ought to be ashamed of yourself for bringing
of such a person into a house like mine, and you'll please vacate
these premises on the day named.' She did not wait for an answer,
but banged the door after her, and went down to her subterranean den.
Mrs Hopgood did not tell her children the true reason for leaving.
She merely said that Mrs Cork had been very impertinent, and that
they must look out for other rooms. Madge instantly recollected
Great Ormond Street, but she did not know the number, and oddly
enough she had completely forgotten Mrs Caffyn's name. It was a
peculiar name, she had heard it only once, she had not noticed it
over the door, and her exhaustion may have had something to do with
her loss of memory. She could not therefore write, and Mrs Hopgood
determined that she herself would go to Great Oakhurst. She had
another reason for her journey. She wished her kind friend there to
see that Madge had really a mother who cared for her. She was
anxious to confirm Madge's story, and Mrs Caffyn's confidence. Clara
desired to go also, but Mrs Hopgood would not leave Madge alone, and
the expense of a double fare was considered unnecessary.
When Mrs Hopgood came to Letherhead on her return, the coach was full
inside, and she was obliged to ride outside, although the weather was
cold and threatening. In about half an hour it began to rain
heavily, and by the time she was in Pentonville she was wet through.
The next morning she ought to have lain in bed, but she came down at
her accustomed hour as Mrs Cork was more than usually disagreeable,
and it was settled that they would leave at once if the rooms in
Great Ormond Street were available. Clara went there directly after
breakfast, and saw Mrs Marshall, who had already received an
introductory letter from her mother.