Clara Hopgood

'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.