Clara Hopgood

There was a ring at the front door bell, and Clara went to see who

was there. It was a runaway ring, but she took the opportunity of

going upstairs to Madge.

'She has a sister?' said Baruch.

'Yes, and I may just as well tell you about her now--leastways what I

know--and I believe as I know pretty near everything about her.

You'll have to be told if they stay here. She was engaged to be

married, and how it came about with a girl like that is a bit beyond

me, anyhow, there's a child, and the father's a good sort by what I

can make out, but she won't have anything more to do with him.'

'What do you mean by "a girl like that."' 'She isn't one of them as goes wrong; she can talk German and reads

books.'

'Did he desert her?'

'No, that's just it. She loves me, although I say it, as if I was

her mother, and yet I'm just as much in the dark as I was the first

day I saw her as to why she left that man.'

Mrs Caffyn wiped the corners of her eyes with her apron.

'It's gospel truth as I never took to anybody as I've took to her.'

After Baruch had gone, Clara returned.

'He's a curious creature, my dear,' said Mrs Caffyn, 'as good as

gold, but he's too solemn by half. It would do him a world of good

if he'd somebody with him who'd make him laugh more. He CAN laugh,

for I've seen him forced to get up and hold his sides, but he never

makes no noise. He's a Jew, and they say as them as crucified our

blessed Lord never laugh proper.