A week ago everything had seemed utterly hopeless.

It seemed as if nothing could save them from disaster.

But everything was now changed! Perhaps it would be well for her to go and see the new proprietor of that registry office, in Baker Street, which had lately changed hands.

It would be a good thing for Bunting to get even an occasional job--for the matter of that he could now take up a fairly regular thing in the way of waiting.

Mrs.Bunting knew that it isn't easy to get a man out of idle ways once he has acquired those ways.
When, at last, she went upstairs again she felt a little ashamed of what she had been thinking, for Bunting had laid the cloth, and laid it very nicely, too, and brought up the two chairs to the table.
"Ellen ?" he cried eagerly, "here's news! Daisy's coming to-morrow! There's scarlet fever in their house.