t take _my_ way. Oh no, you must go off and be independent.
_Serve_ you right! Ha, ha! _Serve_ you right! You'll get no pity from
me.'

'You 'old your jaw, mother, or I'll precious soon set my marks on your
ugly old face! What does he say there about you? You're to pay me
money. He's made arrangements with you. Don't try to cheat me, or
I'll--soon have a summons out against you. The letter's proof; it's
lawyer's proof. You try to cheat me and see.'

Clem had sufficient command of her faculties to devise this line of
action. She half believed, too, that the letter would be of some legal
efficacy, as against her mother.

'You bloomin' fool!' screamed Mrs. Peckover. 'Do you think I was born
yesterday? Not one farden do you get out of me if you starve in the
street--not one farden! It's my turn now. I've had about enough o' your
cheek an' your hinsults. You'll go and work for your livin', you great
cart-horse!'

'Work! No fear! I'll set the perlice after him.'

'The perlice! What can they do?'

'Is it law as he can go off and leave me with nothing to live on?'

'Course it is! Unless you go to the work'us an' throw yourself on the
parish. Do, do! Oh my! Shouldn't I like to see you brought down to the
work'us, like Mrs. Igginbottom, the wife of the cat's-meat man, him as
they stuck up wanted for desertion!'

'You're a liar!' Clem shouted. 'I can make _you_ support me before it
comes to that.'

The wrangle continued for some time longer; then Clem bethought herself
of another person with whom she must have the satisfaction of speaking
her mind. On the impulse, she rushed away, out of Clerkenwell Close, up
St. John Street Road, across City Read, down to Hanover Street,
literally running for most of the time. Her knock at Mrs. Byass's door
was terrific.

'I want to see Jane Snowdon,' was her address to Bessie.

'Do you? I think you might have knocked more like civilisation,'
replied Mrs. Byass, proud of expressing herself with superior
refinement.

But Clem pushed her way forward. Jane, alarmed at the noise, showed
herself on the stairs.

'You just come 'ere!' cried Clem to her. 'I've got something to say to
_you_, Miss!'

Jane was of a sudden possessed with terror, the old terror with which
Clem had inspired her years ago. She shrank back, but Bessie Byass was
by no means disposed to allow this kind of thing to go on in her house.

'Mrs. Snowdon,' she exclaimed, 'I don't know what your business may be,
but