She was roused by the milkman at the area
door, and hastened down to light the fire. At first she resolved to
excuse Helen's absence on the ground that it was Boxing Day, but she
would almost certainly not return, and after breakfast Miss Toller
went upstairs and told her lodgers that Helen had left. Mrs.
Poulter managed to acquaint Mr. Goacher and Miss Taggart that she
desired to speak to them when Mrs. Mudge and Miss Everard were out
of the way, and at midday there was a conference. Mrs. Poulter
declared that the time had now arrived for decisive action, so far
as she was concerned. Mrs. Mudge's behaviour could not be endured.
Her insolence in the matter of the newspaper (this will be explained
in a moment), and her contempt for what was sacred, made it
impossible without loss of self-respect to live with her. The
servant's sudden departure for reasons unknown, had, to use Mrs.
Poulter's words, 'put the coping-stone to the edifice.' The
newspaper grievance was this. The Morning Post was provided by Miss
Toller for her boarders. Mrs.
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