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But Mavis now knew enough of Mrs Gowler and her ways; she refused to dance to the woman's assiduous piping. But Mrs Gowler was not to be denied. One day, when Mavis was sitting up in bed, Mrs Gowler burst into the room to announce proudly that Mrs Bale had come to see Mavis about taking her baby to nurse. "Who is Mrs Bale?" asked Mavis, much annoyed at the intrusion.
"It's always the way; we've lots of 'em like that here, occasionals and regulars." "Occasionals and regulars!" "Lor' bless you, some of 'em comes as punctual as the baked potato man in October. When was you expectin'?" "I'm not quite certain," replied Mavis, at which Mrs Gowler plied her with a number of questions, leading the former to remark presently: "I guess you're due next Friday two weeks.
"If you don't give me a room to myself, I shall go," declared Mavis. "And 'ave yer baby in the street?" "That's my affair." Mavis rose as if to make good her words. Seeing that she was in earnest, Mrs Gowler said: "Don't be a mug. I'll see what I can do." Mavis was much relieved when Mrs Gowler waddled up the stairs, taking with her an evil-smelling oil lamp.
"Be nice to the lady, Oscar, and see her out, like the gent you are," cried Mrs Gowler, before shutting the door. Alone with the grinning idiot, Mavis shut her eyes, the while she finished her tea.
While she waited, she heard the clatter of plates and the clink of glasses in the kitchen. Mavis would have gone for a short walk, but she had a superstitious fear of going out of doors again till after her baby was born. The sharp cry, as of one suddenly assailed by pain, came from the floor overhead. Then a door opened, and footsteps came to the top of the first flight of stairs. "Mrs Gowler!
Presently, she spoke of Mrs Gowler. "I've had every kid here, all seven of 'em, before the one I'm 'spectin' on Sunday. That's why Piggy calls me the 'permanent. Do you like Piggy?" Mavis moved her head in a way that could either be interpreted as a nod or a negative shake.
Directly she saw Mavis, Mrs Bale hurried to the bedside and seized the baby, to dandle it in her arms, the while she made a clucking noise not unlike the cackling of a hen. Mavis noticed that Mrs Bale's breath reeked of gin. "Put my baby down," said Mavis. "I'll leave you two ladies to settle it between yer," remarked Mrs Gowler, as she left the room. "I'm not going to put my baby out to nurse.
These were the "Permanent" and the "Lil" of Halverton Street days. One day, clad in shabby garments, she went to Mrs Gowler's address at New Cross to get news of the former. But the house of evil remembrance was to let; a woman at the next door house told Mavis that Mrs Gowler had been arrested and had got ten years for the misdeeds which the police had at last been able to prove.
Mrs Gowler rose unsteadily to her feet and said: "Ten quid down will save you from forking out five bob a week till you're blue in the face from paying it." Mavis stared at her in astonishment. Mrs Gowler backed to the door. "Told yer you'd fallen on your feet. Next time you'll know better. No pretty pretties: one little nightdress is all you'll want. But it's spot cash."
Her face suggested to Mavis a flayed pig's head, such as can be seen in pork butchers' shops. As if this were not enough to disgust Mavis, the woman's manner soon lost the geniality with which she had greeted her; she stood still and impassively by Mavis, who could not help believing that Mrs Gowler was attentively studying her from her hat to her shoe leather.
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