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 misery of seeing the heads of Mrs. Whitley, the medical woman, and even of the stately Mrs. Dumaresq herself, hastily withdrawn from over the balustrade on the first landing. Every minute seemed an hour until a fresh cheque was made out, and good Mrs. Brown, grasping it tightly in one hand, had gone off to negociate it after a deal of explanation. Prudence felt quite sick with agitation and apprehension.

"I really almost believe," she said to herself, "I really am inclined to think that Mrs. Brown must have been drinking."

A dreadful uneasiness as to how Augusta might be faring weighed heavy on her heart.

"I will certainly go to-morrow and see the place," she resolved, "and if I do not like it, I'll take Augusta away."

Her spirits drooped at the prospect of an impending conflict with good Mrs. Brown, for even if her thoughts wronged the respectable woman, that afternoon's experience showed that the lady in question had another side to her character besides that observed by Prudence at London Bridge Station.