Go up, Mrs. Bubb, and
just say what I told you; and let's see how she takes it."
Mrs. Clover began a faint objection, but Mrs. Bubb did not heed it.
Her face set in the joy of battle, she turned from the room and ran
upstairs.
CHAPTER X
THE STORMING OF THE FORT
Mr. and Mrs. Cheeseman squeezed together at their partly-open door,
were following the course of events with a delighted eagerness which
threatened to break all bounds of discretion. Their grinning faces
signalled to Mrs. Bubb as she went by, and she, no less animated,
waved a hand to them as if promising richer entertainment. The next
minute she was heard parleying with Miss Sparkes. Polly received
her, as was to be expected, with acrimonious defiance.
"Oh, it's you, is it, Mrs. Bubb! Go and clean up your dirty kitchen.
It'll take you all your time."
There needed but this to fire the landlady to extremities. Her
answer rang through the house. Dirty kitchen, indeed! And how many
meals had Miss Sparkes eaten there at cost price--aye, often for
nothing at all! And who was it as made most dirt, coming in at all
hours of the day and night from running about the streets?
"Very well, my lady! Are you going to turn that key or not? That's
all I want to know.
Pages:
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126