Clem went home vowing vengeance. In the nether world this trifling
dissension might have been expected to bear its crop of violent
language and straightway pass into oblivion; but Miss Peckover's
malevolence was of no common stamp, and the scene of to-night
originated a feud which in the end concerned many more people than
those immediately interested.





CHAPTER IX

PATHOLOGICAL




Through the day and through the evening Clara Hewett had her place
behind Mrs. Tubbs's bar. For daylight wear, the dress which had
formerly been her best was deemed sufficient; it was simple, but not
badly made, and became her figure. Her evening attire was provided
by Mrs. Tubbs, who recouped herself by withholding the promised
wages for a certain number of weeks. When Clara had surveyed this
garment in the bar mirror, she turned away contemptuously; the
material was cheap, the mode vulgar. It must be borne with for the
present, like other indignities which she found to be in. separable
from her position. As soon as her employer's claim was satisfied,
and the weekly five shillings began to be paid, Clara remembered the
promise she had volunteered to her father. But John was once more at