Madge was certainly
stuck-up, but the projection above those around her was not
artificial. Both she and her sister found the ways of Fenmarket were
not to their taste. The reason lay partly in their nature and partly
in their history.
Mrs Hopgood was the widow of the late manager in the Fenmarket branch
of the bank of Rumbold, Martin & Rumbold, and when her husband died
she had of course to leave the Bank Buildings. As her income was
somewhat straitened, she was obliged to take a small house, and she
was now living next door to the 'Crown and Sceptre,' the principal
inn in the town. There was then no fringe of villas to Fenmarket for
retired quality; the private houses and shops were all mixed
together, and Mrs Hopgood's cottage was squeezed in between the
ironmonger's and the inn. It was very much lower than either of its
big neighbours, but it had a brass knocker and a bell, and distinctly
asserted and maintained a kind of aristocratic superiority.
Mr Hopgood was not a Fenmarket man. He came straight from London to
be manager. He was in the bank of the London agents of Rumbold,
Martin & Rumbold, and had been strongly recommended by the city firm
as just the person to take charge of a branch which needed thorough
reorganisation. He succeeded, and nobody in Fenmarket was more
respected. He lived, however, a life apart from his neighbours,
excepting so far as business was concerned.
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