At their invitation Mrs.Bubb and the hero of the evening stepped up, and for a quarter of an hour Mrs.Clover was left alone with her niece.

Then the landlady's attention was called by a voice from below.
"I must be going, Mrs.Bubb; I'll say good night." Quickly Mrs.Bubb descended; she saw at a glance that Polly's wrath had in no degree diminished, and that Mrs.Clover was no whit easier in mind; but both had become silent.

Merely saying that she would see her hostess again before long, the lady of the china shop took a hurried leave and quitted the house.
She had walked but a few yards when Mr.Gammon's voice sounded at her shoulder.
"I'll see you part of the way home," he said genially.
"I'm much obliged to you, Mr.Gammon," was Mrs.Clover's reply, "but I can find my own way." "You'll let me see you into a 'bus, at all events." "Please don't trouble; I'd much rather you didn't." "Why ?" asked Gammon bluntly.
"Because I had.

I'll say good night." She stood still looking him in the face with cold displeasure; only for a moment though, as her eyes could not bear the honest look in his.
"Right you are," said Gammon with affected carelessness.

"Just as you like.