"Can you tell me of anywhere near here where they let rooms—somewhere cheap?"
The man looked down at her white, exhausted face, and at the well-cut coat and skirt chosen by Barbara, which yet hung loosely and badly on her stooping, shrunken figure.
"Somebody's poor relation," was his unspoken comment.
"Is it for yourself, Miss? You'd hardly care to be in this neighbourhood, would you?"
"I want to be somewhere near Hampstead—and somewhere very, very cheap," Alex faltered, thinking of her five pounds, which lay at that moment in the purse she was clasping.
"Well, you'll find as cheap here as anywhere, if you don't mind the noise."
"Oh, no," said Alex—who had never slept within the sound of traffic—surprised.
"Then if I was you, Miss, I'd try No. 252 Malden Road—just beyond the Gipsy Queen, that is, or else two doors further up. I saw cards up in both windows with 'apartments' inside the last week."
"Thank you," said Alex.
She wished that Malden Road had looked more like Downshire Hill, which had trees and little tiny gardens in front of the houses, which almost all resembled country cottages. But no doubt houses in Downshire Hill did not let rooms, or if so they must be too expensive. Besides, Alex felt almost sure that Barbara would not want her as a very near neighbour.