The old ladies were already down when she went in to breakfast.  Miss Annie, directly she saw Mavis, took up a letter that she had laid beside her plate.

“I’ve heard from Mrs Devitt, dear,” she said, after she had asked Mavis, according to custom, how she had slept.

“What does she say?” asked Mavis indifferently.

“That she regrets she is unable to offer you anything at present, but if, at any time, you would take a clerkship in one of the companies in which her husband is interested, they might be able to provide you with a berth,” replied Annie.

“Oh!” said Mavis shortly.

“She has also sent me a postal order for your fare,” continued Annie.

Mavis made no reply.

The two old maids glanced significantly at one another; presently, Annie Mee was emboldened to ask: 

“Do you think you would like to earn your living in the manner indicated?”

“I have decided not to,” replied Mavis shortly.

“Of course, if you would prefer to stay with us,” began Miss Helen.

“If you have no objection, I will leave for good tomorrow morning,” said Mavis.

“Leave for good!” cried the two old ladies together, who, now that they believed Mavis to be going, were dismayed at the prospect of living without her.

“It will be better for all of us,” remarked Mavis.

“But have you anything in view, dear?” asked Miss Annie.

“Nothing very definite.  But I’ve every hope of being settled in a day or two.”

The two old ladies heaved a sigh of relief; for all their affection for the girl, they found that her healthy appetite made serious inroads into the meager profits of the college.  After breakfast, Mavis went upstairs for her hat.  She opened the drawers at the base of her old-fashioned looking-glass and counted up her possessions.  These amounted to seven pounds, thirteen shillings and sevenpence halfpenny; in addition to which, there was a quarter’s salary of four pounds ten shillings due to her; also, there was her fare which Mrs. Devitt had sent, a sum which she was undecided whether or not to accept.  At any other time, Mavis would have thought that this money would have been ample provision with which to start life; but her one time ignorance on this matter had been rudely dissipated by her fruitless search after employment, when she had first decided to leave Brandenburg College.  Beyond her little store of ready money, she owned a few trinkets which, at the worst, she could sell for a little; but this was a contingency on which she would not allow her mind to dwell just now.  One or two things she was determined not to part with; these were her mother’s wedding ring, a locket containing a piece of her father’s hair, and a bracelet which he had given her.  The two old ladies would be leaving for Worthing on the morrow; Amelia was going to Southend-on-Sea for a fortnight.  As Mavis had resolved to sever her long connection with the college, it was necessary for her to seek lodging elsewhere.