Altogether Jeffreys had a busy time of it.
So busy that when, about mid-day, Tim, who had been perched upon a box at the window to amuse himself at the peril of his neck by looking out into the court below, suddenly exclaimed--"There she is!" he bounded from his seat like one electrified, and for the first time realised that _she_ might come and find him! There was barely a chance of escape.

She had already entered the house; and he became aware of the little flutter which usually pervaded the crowded tenement when she set foot in it.

She had many families to visit, and each grudged her to the next.

The women had yards of trouble to unroll to her sympathy; and the children besieged her for stories and songs.

The sick lifted their heads as they heard her foot on the steps; and even the depraved and vicious and idle set their doors ajar to get a glimpse of her as she passed.
What could he do?
Wait and face her, and perhaps meet her look of scorn, or worse still, of forgiveness?
or hide from her?
He debated the question till he heard her enter the chamber of death below.
Then there came over him a vision of her as he had last seen her that October afternoon with Scarfe in Regent's Park.