This
astonished the good woman. Why, her husband was Messrs. 'Iggins of
Fenchurch Street! Oh, a mere formality, Emmeline hastened to
add--for Mr. Mumford's satisfaction. So Mrs. Higgins very pompously
named two City firms, and negotiations, for the present, were at an
end.

Louise, summoned to the drawing-room, looked rather tired of
waiting.

'When can you have me, Mrs. Mumford?' she asked. 'I've quite made up
my mind to come.'

'I'm afraid a day or two must pass, Miss Derrick--'

'The references, my dear,' began Mrs. Higgins.

'Oh, nonsense! It's all right; anyone can see.'

'There you go! Always cutting short the words in my mouth. I can't
endure such behaviour, and I wonder what Mrs. Rumford thinks of it.
I've given Mrs. Rumford fair warning--'

They wrangled for a few minutes, Emmeline feeling too depressed and
anxious to interpose with polite commonplaces. When at length they
took their leave, she saw the last of them with a sigh of
thanksgiving. It had happened most fortunately that no one called
this afternoon.

'Clarence, it's _quite_ out of the question.' Thus she greeted her
husband. 'The girl herself I could endure, but oh, her odious
mother!--Three guineas a week! I could cry over the thought.'

By the first post in the morning came a letter from Louise. She
wrote appealingly, touchingly. 'I know you couldn't stand my mother,
but do please have me. I like Sutton, and I like your house, and I
like you. I promise faithfully nobody from home shall ever come to
see me, so don't be afraid. Of course if you won't have me, somebody
else will; I've got two hundred to choose from, but I'd rather come
to you. Do write and say I may come. I'm so sorry I quarrelled with
mother before you. I promise never to quarrel with you. I'm very
good-tempered when I get what I want.' With much more to the same
effect.

'We _will_ have her,' declared Mumford. 'Why not, if the old people
keep away?--You are quite sure she sounds her _h's_?'

'Oh, quite. She has been to pretty good schools, I think. And I dare
say I could persuade her to get other dresses and hats.'

'Of course you could. Really, it seems almost a duty to take
her--doesn't it?'

So the matter was settled, and Mumford ran off gaily to catch his
train.

Three days later Miss Derrick arrived, bringing with her something
like half-a-ton of luggage. She bounded up the doorsteps, and,
meeting Mrs. Mumford in the hall, kissed her fervently.

'I've go