"Wasting your time on me and helping me to forget."
"Forget what?"
"Never mind," he said, as he wheeled himself away.
When Mavis got back to Mrs Budd's, she found a bustle of preparation afoot. Mrs Budd was running up and downstairs, carrying clean linen with all her wonted energy; whilst Hannah, her sour-faced assistant, perspired about the house with dustpan and brushes.
"Expecting a new lodger?" asked Mavis.
"It's my daughter, Mrs Perkins; she's telegraphed to say she's coming down from Kensington for a few days."
"She'll be a help."
Mrs Budd's face fell as she said:
"Well, miss, she comes from Kensington, and she has a baby."
"Is she bringing that too?"