Old Jack felt unhappy, for a landlord. He and the missis reproached
themselves for not asking the little stranger certain questions; but he
had gone. Next Monday morning old Jack took another half-day, and went
to Mulberry Street himself. From appearances, he assured himself that a
belief, entertained by his missis, that the upper part of his house was
being sublet, was well founded. He watched awhile from a corner, until a
dirty child kicked at the door, and it was opened. Then he went across
and found the draggle-tailed woman who had answered Mrs. Randall before,
in every respect the same to look at, except that not one eye was black
but two. Old Jack, with some abruptness, demanded his rent of her,
addressing her as Mrs. Parsons. Without disclaiming the name, she
pleaded with meek uneasiness that Mr. Parsons really wasn't at home, and
she didn't know when to expect him. At last, finding this ineffectual,
she produced four and sixpence: begging him with increasing agitation to
take that on account and call again.
Old Jack took the money, and called again at seven. Custom or law or
what-not, he would wait for no Monday morning now. The door was open,
and a group of listening children stood about it. From within came a
noise of knocks and thuds and curses--sometimes a gurgle. Old Jack asked
a small boy, whose position in the passage betokened residence, what was
going forward. "It's the man downstairs," said the boy, "a-givin' of it
to 'is wife for payin' awy the lodgers' rent."
At this moment Mr. Joe Parsons appeared in the passage. The children,
who had once or twice commented in shouts, dispersed. "I've come for my
rent," said old Jack.
Mr. Joe Parsons saw no retreat. So he said, "Rent? Ain't you 'ad it? I
don't bother about things in the 'ouse. Come again when my wife's in."
"She is in," rejoined old Jack, "an' you've been a-landin' of 'er for
payin' me what little she 'as. Come, you pay me what you owe me, and
take a week's notice now. I want my house kep' respectable."