Mrs Polesden at that moment came in for an ounce of tea, and as Mrs Caffyn rose to weigh it, the rector departed with a stiff ‘good-morning,’ made to do duty for both women. CHAPTER XIII MRS CAFFYN persuaded Madge to go to bed at once, after giving her ‘something to comfort her.’ In the morning her kind hostess came to her bedside. ‘You’ve got a mother, haven’t you—leastways, I know you have, because you wrote to her.’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well, and you lives with her and she looks after you?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘And she’s fond of you, maybe?’ ‘Oh, yes.’ ‘That’s a marcy; well then, my dear, you shall go back in the cart to Letherhead, and you’ll catch the Darkin coach to London.’ ‘You have been very good to me; what have I to pay you?’ ‘Pay? Nothing! why, if I was to let you pay, it would just look as if I’d trapped you here to get something out of you. Pay! no, not a penny.’ ‘I can afford very well to pay, but if it vexes you I will not offer anything. I don’t know how to thank you enough.’ Madge took Mrs Caffyn’s hand in hers and pressed it firmly. ‘Besides, my dear,’ said Mrs Caffyn, smoothing the sheets a little, ‘you won’t mind my saying it, I expex you are in trouble. There’s something on your mind, and I believe as I knows pretty well what it is.’ Madge turned round in the bed so as no longer to face the light; Mrs Caffyn sat between her and the window. ‘Look you here, my dear; don’t you suppose I meant to say anything to hurt you. The moment I looked on you I was drawed to you like; I couldn’t help it. I see’d what was the matter, but I was all the more drawed, and I just wanted you to know as it makes no difference. That’s like me; sometimes I’m drawed that way and sometimes t’other way, and it’s never no use for me to try to go against it. I ain’t a-going to say anything more to you; God-A’mighty, He’s above us all; but p’r’aps you may be comm’ this way again some day, and then you’ll look in.’ Madge turned again to the light, and again caught Mrs Caffyn’s hand, but was silent. The next morning, after Madge’s return, Mrs Cork, the landlady, presented herself at the sitting-room door and ‘wished to speak with Mrs Hopgood for a minute.’ ‘Come in, Mrs Cork.’ ‘Thank you, ma’am, but I prefer as you should come downstairs.’