Beyond that , none of the third-year Ida Mitchell 's set knew anything about her , or tried to find out . `` She must be very poor , '' said Ida carelessly . `` She dresses so shabbily , and she always looks so pinched and subdued . She boards in a little house out on Marlboro Road , and I pity her if she has to spend her holidays there , for a more dismal place I never saw . I was there once on the trail of a book I had lost . Going , girls ? Well , do n't forget tomorrow night . '' Ida spent the next day decorating her room and watching for the arrival of her cake . It had n't come by tea-time , and she concluded to go down to the express office and investigate . It would be dreadful if that cake did n't turn up in time , with all the girls and Miss Monroe coming in . Ida felt that she would be mortified to death . Inquiry at the express office discovered two things . A box had come in for Miss Ida Mitchell , Clifton ; and said box had been delivered to Miss Ida Mitchell , Clifton . `` One of our clerks said he knew you personally -- boarded next door to you -- and he 'd take it round himself , '' the manager informed her . `` There must be some mistake , '' said Ida in perplexity . `` I do n't know any of the clerks here . Oh -- why -- there 's another Ida Mitchell in town ! Can it be possible my cake has gone to her ? '' The manager thought it very possible , and offered to send around and see . But Ida said it was on her way home and she would call herself .
At the dismal little house on Marlboro XXXXX she was sent up three flights of stairs to the other Ida Mitchell 's small hall bedroom .
Clifton Ida Inquiry Mitchell Monroe Road book house perplexity tea-time