presumption in supposing her services could be of any value, she found
Mrs. Japes in convulsive tears, speechless.

What was the matter? Hysterical jerks of the head towards the stairs.
Up to her room--the cause clear in her rifled box, its contents
scattered across the floor, the little case in which with her pictures
of Mother and Dad she kept her money gone.

A little raid by Mr. Japes, it appeared, in which Mrs. Japes's
property had also suffered.... He had done it before ... a bad lot ...
had done time ... the rent overdue and the brokers coming in ... she'd
best go ... of course she could tell the police.

Of course she did not tell the police. The whole affair bewildered and
frightened her.

To another lodging three streets away.... Initiation by the new
landlady into the mysteries of pawnshops; gradual thinning of
wardrobe.... Answering of advertisements found in the public library
in Great Smith Street.... Long, feet-aching trudges to save omnibus
fares.... Always the same outcome. ... Experience?--None. References?
--None.... "Thank you; I'm afraid--I'm sure it's all right, but one
has to be so careful nowadays. Good morning." ... Always the same
outcome.... The idea of writing to Ireland was hardly conceived. ...
That life, those friends, seemed of a period that was dead, done,
gone--ages and ages ago....



XIII.