to-night, so just remember that, Mr. Parish. The idea! If I can't
take two steps without being followed and spied upon! And you call
yourself a gentleman. Get out of my way, please. If you want to
follow and spy, you're quite at liberty to do so. P'r'aps it'll ease
your nasty little mind. Don't talk to me! What business have you got
to stop me in the street, I'd like to know? If you're not careful I
shall send a complaint to your employers, and then you'll have
plenty of time to go taking walks."

She turned from him and pursued her way, but not so quickly as
before. Christopher, limp with misery, tried to move off in another
direction, but in spite of himself he was drawn after her. By
Chancery Lane and along the Strand he kept her in sight, often with
difficulty, for he durst not draw nearer than some twenty yards. At
Charing Cross she stopped, and by her movements showed that she was
looking for an omnibus. Parish longed to approach, quivered with the
ever-recurrent impulse, but his fear prevailed. In a more lucid
state of mind he would probably have remarked that Polly allowed a
great many omnibuses to go by, and that she was surely waiting much
longer than she need have done. But at length she jumped in and
disappeared, whereupon Mr. Parish spent all the money he had with
him on a large brandy and soda, hoping it would make him drunk.

The door of the house in Kennington Road stood open; in the passage
Mr. Gammon and Mr. Cheeseman were conversing genially. They nodded
to Polly, but did not speak. Passing them to the head of the kitchen
stairs she called to Mrs. Bubb, and that lady's voice summoned her
to descend.

"Are you alone?" asked Miss Sparkes sharply.