Nothing more
grotesque than the picture of Mrs. Cross amid her shattered
crockery, Mrs. Cross pointing to the prostrate Martha, Mrs. Cross
panting forth the chronicle of her woes; but Mrs. Cross' daughter
was not involved in this scene of pantomime; she walked across the
stage, but independently, with a simple dignity, proof against
paltry or ludicrous circumstance. If any one could see the laughable
side of such domestic squalor, assuredly it was Bertha herself of
that Will felt assured. Did he not remember her smile when she had
to discuss prices and qualities in the shop? Not many girls smile
with so much implication of humorous comment.
He had promised to look out for another servant, but hardly knew how
to go to work. First of all, Mrs. Hopper was summoned to an
interview in the parlour behind the shop, and Martha's case was
fully discussed. With much protesting and circumlocution, Mrs.
Hopper brought herself at length to own that Martha had been known
to "take too much," but that was so long ago, and the girl had
solemnly declared, etc., etc. However, as luck would have it, she
did know of another girl, a really good general servant, who had
only just been thrown out of a place by the death of her mistress,
and who was living at home in Kentish Town. Thither sped Warburton;
he saw the girl and her mother, and, on returning, sent a note to
Mrs. Cross, in which he detailed all he had learnt concerning the
new applicant.
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