Bubb took too much upon herself. Mrs.
Bubb was the widow of a police officer; one of her children was in
the Police Orphanage at Twickenham, and for the support of each of
the others she received half a crown a week. This, to be sure,
justified the good woman in a certain spirit of pride; but when it
came to calling names and making unpleasant insinuations--If a young
lady cannot have a harmless and profitable secret, what is the use
of being a young lady?
On the way to her duties at the theatre, about seven o'clock, she
entered a little stationer's shop m an obscure street, and asked
with a smile whether any letter had arrived for her. Yes, there was
one addressed in a careless hand to "Miss Robinson." This, in
another obscure street hard by she opened. On half a sheet of
notepaper was printed with pen and ink the letters _W. S. T._--that
was all. Polly had no difficulty in interpreting this cipher. She
tore up envelope and paper, and walked briskly on.
There was but a poor "house" this evening. Commission on programmes
would amount to very little indeed; but the young gentleman with the
weak eyes, who came evening after evening, and must have seen the
present piece a hundred times or so, gave her half a crown, weeping
copiously from nervousness as he touched her hand.
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