To her, in the tiny sitting-room, the story was told.
It appeared that she had never yet taken a lady lodger. In her street
ladies were regarded with suspicion; that no petticoats were ever to
be fetched across the threshold was a rule to which each medical
student who engaged her rooms must first subscribe.
None the less she was here acquiescent. She knew George well; had for
him an affection above that which commonly she entertained for the
noisy young men who were her means of livelihood. Mary should pay for
the little back bedroom that Mr. Thornton had; and, free of charge,
should have use of the sitting-room rented by Mr. Grainger. There
would be no lodgers until the medical schools reopened in October.
So it was settled--and together in the sitting-room where Mrs. Pinking
made them a little lunch again they debated the immediate future. It
was three weeks before George's examination was due. Again he declared
himself confident that, when actually he had passed, his uncle would
not refuse the 400 pounds which meant the world to them--which meant
the tight little practice at Runnygate. But the intervening weeks were
meanwhile to be faced. Mary must have home. At the Agency she must
pour forth her tale and seek new situation till they could be married.
If the Agency failed them--They shuddered.
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