cted and required, and, whilst those
who were capable of adjusting themselves to the new _regime_ found, on
the whole, that things went vastly better with them, such as could by
no means overcome their love of filth, moral and material, troubled
themselves little when the notice to quit came, together with a little
sum of ready money to cover the expenses of removal.

Among those whom Ida called upon this afternoon was an old woman who,
in addition to her own voluminous troubles, was always in a position to
give a _compte-rendu_ of the general distress of the neighbourhood.
People had discovered that her eloquence could be profitably made use
of in their own service, and not infrequently, when speaking with Ida,
she was in reality holding a brief from this or that neighbour, marked,
not indeed in guineas, but in "twos" of strong beverage, obtainable at
her favourite house of call. To-day she held such a brief, and was more
than usually urgent in the representation of a deserving case.

"Oh, Miss Woodstock, mem, there's a poor young 'oman a-lyin' at the
Clock 'Ouse, as it really makes one's 'art bleed to tell of her! For
all she's so young, she's a widder, an' pr'aps it's as well she should
be, seein' how shockin' her 'usband treated her afore he was took where
no doubt he's bein' done as he did by. It's fair cruel, Miss Woodstock,
mem, to see her sufferin's. She has fits, an' falls down everywheres;
it's a mercy as she 'asn't been run over in the public street long ago.
They're hepiplectic fits, I'm told, an' laws o' me! the way she foams
at the mouth! No doubt as they was brought on by her 'usband's
etrocious treatment. I understand as he was a man as called hisself a
gentleman. He was allus that jealous of the pore innocent thing,
mem--castin' in her teeth things as I couldn't bring myself not even to
'int at in your presence, Miss Woodstock, mem. Many's the time he's
beat her black an' blue, when she jist went out to get a bit o'
somethink for his tea at night, 'cos he would 'ave it she'd been
a-doin' what she 'adn't ought--"

"Where is she?" Ida asked, thinking she had now gathered enough of the
features of the case.

"I said at the Clock 'Ouse, mem. Mrs. Sprowl's took her in' mem, and is
be'avin' to her like a mother. She knew her, did Mrs. Sprowl, in the
pore thing's 'appy days, before ever she married. But of course it
ain't likely as Mrs. Sprowl can keep her as long as her pore life
lasts; not to speak of th