Mrs. Poulter, the senior in residence of the five, was the widow of
a retired paymaster in the Navy. She was between fifty and sixty, a
big, portly woman. After her husband was pensioned she lived in
Southsea. As he belonged to the civilian branch, Mrs. Poulter had
to fight undauntedly in order to maintain a calling acquaintance
with the wives of executive officers, and in fact the highest she
had on her list was a commander's lady. When Paymaster Poulter
died, and his pension ceased, she gave up the struggle. She had no
children, and moved to Brighton with an annuity of 150 pounds a year
derived from her husband's insurance of 2000 pounds, and a life
interest in some property left by her mother.

Mr. Goacher was a bachelor clergyman of about forty. He read
prayers, presided over the book-club, and by a judicious expenditure
of oil prevented friction between the other boarders. It was
understood that he had been compelled to give up clerical duty by
what is called clergyman's sore-throat. It was not known whether he
had been vicar, rector, or curate, but he wore the usual white neck-
band and a soft, low felt hat, he was clean-shaven, his letters were
addressed 'Reverend,' he was not bad-looking; and these vouchers
were considered sufficient.

Mrs. Mudge was the widow of a tradesman in London. She was better
off than any of the other lodgers, and drank claret at twenty
shillings a dozen.

Miss Everard, the youngest of the party, was a French mistress, but
English by birth, and gave lessons in two or three schools. She was
never at home on weekdays excepting at breakfast and dinner. After
dinner she generally corrected exercises in her bedroom, but when