Part 64 (1/2)

”My gentleman got up late today--he don't go to 'is job Sat.u.r.days, so I 'aven't put the room to rights yet. But it's a nice room, Miss, and will be vacant on Monday. It goes with the downstairs sitting-room in the front, as a rule, but that's 'ad to be turned into a bedroom just lately. I've been so crowded.”

”Will that be empty on Monday, too?” asked Alex, for the sake of answering something.

”Tonight, Miss. I let a coloured gentleman 'ave it--a student, you know; a thing I've never done before, either. Other people don't like it, and it gives a name, like, for not being particular who one takes. So he's going, and I shan't be sorry. I don't 'old with making talk, and it isn't as though the room wouldn't let easy. It's a beautiful room, Miss.”

The coloured gentleman's room was tidier than the one upstairs, but a haze of stale tobacco fumes hung round it and obscured Alex' view of a short leather sofa with horsehair breaking from it in patches, a small round table in the middle of the room, and a tightly-closed window looking on to the traffic of Malden Road.

”About terms, Miss,” Mrs. Hoxton began suggestively in the pa.s.sage.

”Oh, I couldn't afford much,” Alex began, thinking that it was more difficult than she had supposed to walk out again saying that she did not, after all, want the rooms.

”I'd let you 'ave those two rooms, and full board, for two-ten a week!”

cried the landlady.

”Oh, I don't think--”

Mrs. Hoxton shrugged her shoulders, looked at the ceiling and said resignedly:

”Then I suppose we must call it two guineas, though I ought to ask double. But you can come in right away on Monday, Miss, and I think you'll find it all comfortable.”

”But--” said Alex faintly.

She felt very tired, and the thought of a further search for lodgings wearied her and almost frightened her. Besides, the policeman had told her that this was a cheap neighbourhood. Perhaps anywhere else they would charge much more. Finally she temporized feebly with the reflection that it need only be for a week--once the step of leaving Clevedon Square had been definitely taken, she could feel herself free to find a more congenial habitation at her leisure, and when she might feel less desperately tired. She sighed, as she followed the line of least resistance.

”Well, I'll come on Monday, then.”

”Yes, Miss,” the landlady answered promptly. ”May I have your name, Miss?--and the first week in advance my rule, as I think I mentioned.”

”My name is Miss Clare.”

Alex took two sovereigns and two s.h.i.+llings, fumbling, out of her purse and handed them to the woman. It did not occur to her to ask for any form of receipt.

”Will you be wanting anything on Monday, Miss?”

Alex looked uncomprehending, and the woman eyed her with scarcely veiled contempt and added, ”Supper, or anything?”

”Oh--yes. I'd better come in time for dinner--for supper, I mean.”

”Yes, Miss. Seven o'clock will do you, I suppose?”

Alex thought it sounded very early, but she did not feel that she cared at all, and said that seven would do quite well.

She wondered if there were any questions which she ought to ask, but could think of none, and she was rather afraid of the strident-voiced, hard-faced woman.

But Mrs. Hoxton seemed to be quite satisfied, and pulled open the door as though it was obvious that the interview had come to an end.

”Good afternoon,” said Alex.

”Afternoon,” answered the landlady, as she slammed the door again, almost before Alex was on the pavement of Malden Road. She went away with a strangely sinking heart. To what had she committed herself?