“Mother,” cried Clara with a start, “What have you come to town for? What is the matter? Anything wrong?”
“Nothing, Clara, nothing. I’ve only come to talk to you. I am coming into your house, into your grand house. I don’t care about your grandeur, but I’m coming in to see you, for I’ve got something to say.”
“Come in, of course, mother. I shall be delighted to welcome you. Come up-stairs to the drawing-room.”
Clara closed the hall door, and walked up the grand staircase accompanied by her mother. They entered the drawing-room, the little woman immediately dropping a curtsey.
“A mercy me!” she cried. “A deal of rugs and curtains and fine furniture all over the place, but the air smothering to the breathing all the same. Clara, I came to say that the child——”
“If you want to talk on private matters, mother, we had better go to my bedroom. You will sleep here, of course.”
“No, I have a lodging outside. I couldn’t have a wink of sleep in a grand sort o’ place like this, but I have come to say——”
“We will talk in my bedroom, mother.”
CHAPTER XXI.
“HONOR BRIGHT.”
Clara took her mother to her bedroom. A bright fire glowed in the grate, the bed was turned down, and everything looked soft, luxurious, and the very height of luxury.