“Go on the parish, m’m.”
“Not necessarily on the parish. The clergy’s most helpful and sympathetic. They might tell her of those who would help her.”
“They might. But it’s most awfully difficult. Nobody knows what ought to be done about these things.”
“That is so. But there’s a right and a wrong in everything. There’s plenty of people willing to help those that will help theirselves. But that’s very different to coming into a person’s house to try and get money out of strangers.”
“I say.”
“It is I say. I never felt so ashamed in my life.”
“I say. … Did they tell you?”
“Mrs. Hurd came to me herself.”
“Mrs. Hurd. Of course, it would be.”
“My word. I was wild. And them only just come into my house.”
“Yes, of course; I say.”
“Tellin’ them she was ill.”
“She is ill you know.”
“There’s some imagines theirselves ill. If she was anything like as ill as I am she might have something to complain about.”
“I think she’s rather plucky. She doesn’t want to give in. It’s a kind of illness that doesn’t show much. I know her doctor. He’s a Harley Street man. He says that her kind of disorder makes it absolutely impossible for the patient to tell the truth. I don’t believe that. It’s just one of those doctory things they all repeat.” … What is truth said jesting Pilate and did not wait for an answer. Their idea of truth—
“Well if she is ill why doesn’t she act according?”
“Look after herself a bit. Yes. That’s what she wants to do. But not give in.”
“Quite so. That’s a thing a person can understand. But that doesn’t make it right to come to private people and behave in the way she has done. Strangers. I never met such conduct, nor heard of it.”
“No.”
“She’s got relatives I suppose; or friends.”
“Well, that’s just it. I don’t think she has. I suppose the truth is all her friends are tired of helping her.”
“Well, I’m not judging her there. There’s none can be so cruel as relatives, as I know, my word.”
“Yes.”
“They’ll turn from you when you’re struggling to the utmost to help yourself, going on ill, left with four young children, your husband cut off and not a penny.”
“Yes.”
“I agree with her there. I owe all I have, under Providence, to my own hands and the help coming from strangers I had no claim on. But why doesn’t she act open? That’s what I say and I know it. There’s always those ready to help you if you’ll do your part. It’s all take and no give with some.”
“Vampires. People are extraordinary.”
“You’d say so if you had this house to manage.”
“I suppose so.”
“You get your eyes open. With one and another.”
“I’d no idea she’d even been talking to the Hurds.”
“Talk? Well I don’t mind telling you now she’s gone.”
“Well, she won’t come back again. If she ever does Mrs. Bailey I hereby refuse all responsibility. On your head be it if you take her in. I can’t keep her.”
“Well, as I say, I’m free to tell you. They used to go upstairs into the drawn-room, mornings, after breakfast. I could hear that woman’s voice going on and on. I was up and down the stairs. What’s more she used to stop dead the minute I came in.”
“Well I am sorry you’ve had all this.”
“I’m not blaming you, young lady.”
“What about all the others?”
“Rodkin and Helsing and Gunner’s out all day.”
“Yes but the others? The Manns and the Irish journalist.”
“She’d be clever to get anything out of any of them.”
“I wonder she didn’t try Mrs. Barrow. She’s kind I’m sure and gullible.”
“She’s very kind no doubt in her way. Anyway she’s not one of those who live on a widow woman and pay nothing.”
The old sense of the house was crumbling. To Mrs. Bailey it was worry and things she could not talk about to anyone, and a few nice people here and there. And all the time she was polite; as if she liked them all, equally. And they were polite. Everyone was polite. And behind it was all this. Shifts and secrets and strange characters. When they were all together at Mrs. Bailey’s dinner, they were all carrying things off, politely. Perhaps already she regretted having sent away the lodgers.
“The doctors were nice people to have in the house.”
“Wasn’t they dear boys? Very nice gentlemen. Canadians are the ones to my mind, though I believe as much as any in standing by your own. But you’ve got to consider your interests.”
“Of course.”
“That’s why I mean to advertiss. My word those Hurds are good friends if you like. I couldn’t tell you. The old man’s put an advert for me in the Canadian place in the city.”
“Then you’ll have a houseful of Canadians.”
“That’s what I hope. The more the better of their kind.”
“We shall all be speaking Canadian.”
“Well, since we’re on the subject, Mrs. Hurd advises me to go to Canada. Says it’s all work and no pay over here. Everybody expects too much for too little.”
How could she rejoice in the idea of a house full of Canadians? All the same. Canadian. It would change the house more and more. Mrs. Bailey would not mind that. The house meant nothing to her just as it was with its effect. She had to make it pay. If another house would pay better she would just as soon have another house. “You wouldn’t
