“Hi! mister—you can come up all right—it’s all off about the bath.”

She put her untidy head in at the door:

“He’s a-comin’ up, lidy,” she said; and, shutting the door, departed.

Caroline sighed wearily:

“I wish we could suppress that child,” she said....

The door opened and Victoria May Alice, in the gloom beyond the lamp, cried, as a dark figure entered the room:

“The gentleman as says he’s Mr. Pangbutt, marm!”

A burst of laughter came from the group about the bed at some passing sally from Noll.

Paul Pangbutt, blinking at the lamp-light, looked dazedly round the room.

Caroline rose from her seat: