Responding as soon as possible to Mrs.
Clover's summons, he found that she wished to speak to him about his daughter.

Mrs.Clover showed herself seriously disturbed by Polly's recent behaviour; she told of the newly-acquired jewellery, of the dresses in which Miss Sparkes went "flaunting," of the girl's scornful refusal to answer natural inquiries.
"The long and the short of it is, Ebenezer, you ought to see her, and find out what's going on.

There may be nothing wrong, and I don't say there is; but that watch and chain of hers wasn't bought under twenty pounds--that I'll answer for, and it's a very queer thing, to say the least of it.

What business was it of mine, she asked.

I shouldn't wonder if she says the same to you; but it's your plain duty to have a talk with her, don't you think so now ?" To have a talk with Polly, especially on such a subject, was no easy or pleasant undertaking for Mr.Sparkes, who had so long resigned all semblance of parental authority.