Clara Hopgood

'What were you thinking?' said Marshall.

'I've got it,' said Mrs Caffyn, joyously. 'Miss Clara and me will go

to Great Oakhurst on the Friday. We can easy enough stay at my old

shop. Marshall and Sarah, Miss Madge, the baby and Baruch can go to

Letherhead on the Saturday morning. The two women and the baby can

have one of the rooms at Skelton's, and Marshall and Baruch can have

the other. Then, on Sunday morning, Miss Clara and me we'll come

over for you, and we'll all walk through Norbury Park. That'll be

ever so much better in many ways. Miss Clara and me, we'll go by the

coach. Six of us, not reckoning the baby, in that heavy ginger-beer

cart of Masterman's would be too much.'

'An expensive holiday, rather,' said Marshall.

'Leave that to me; that's my business. I ain't quite a beggar, and

if we can't take our pleasure once a year, it's a pity. We aren't

like some folk as messes about up to Hampstead every Sunday, and

spends a fortune on shrimps and donkeys. No; when I go away, it IS

away, maybe it's only for a couple of days, where I can see a blessed

ploughed field; no shrimps nor donkeys for me.'