In this way she became quite a favorite, and her little parlor--she liked the old English word--was usually, well filled at the hour of afternoon tea.
Twice already Lucy had called on Mrs.Jasher after the commotion caused by the crime, as she wished to speak to her about the same; but on each occasion the widow proved to be absent in London.

However, the third visit proved to be more lucky, for Mrs.Jasher was at home, and expressed herself happy to see the girl.
"So good of you to come and see me in my little wooden hut," said the widow, kissing her guest.
And Mrs.Jasher's cottage really was a little wooden hut, being what was left of an old-fashioned farmhouse, built before the stone age.

It lay on the verge of the marshes in an isolated position and was placed in the middle of a square garden, protected from the winter floods by a low stone wall solidly built, but of no great height.

The road to the Fort ran past the front part of the garden, but behind the marshes spread towards the embankment, which cut off the view of the Thames.

The situation was not an ideal one, nor was the cottage, but money was scarce with Mrs.Jasher, and she had obtained the whole place at a surprisingly small rental.