When Mrs. Clover had lived with her parents for about
three years she was summoned by her husband to Dulwich, where the
man had somehow established himself as a cab proprietor; he
explained his wanderings as the result of mere restlessness, and
with this cold comfort Mrs. Clover had to be content. By degrees
they settled into a not unhappy life; the girl, Minnie, was growing
up, the business might have been worse, everything seemed to promise
unbroken domestic tranquillity, when one fine day Mr. Clover was
again missing. Again he sent letters and money, the former written
in a strangely mingled mood of grief and hopefulness, the remittance
varying from half a sovereign to a ten-pound note. This time the
letters were invariably posted in London, but in different
districts. Clover declared that he was miserable away from home,
and, without offering any reason for his behaviour, promised that he
would soon return.
Six years had since elapsed. To afford herself occupation Mrs.
Clover went into the glass and china business, assisted by her
parents' experience, and by the lively interest of her friend Mr.
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