Street.  Before Mavis fell in with his request, she stipulated that she was not to pay more than a pound a week for any rooms she might engage.  When she got back, she was overwhelmed with inquiries from Lil, the girl upstairs, with reference to “the mug” whom she (Mavis) had captured.  But Mavis scarcely listened to the girl’s questions; she was wondering why, first of all, Miss Toombs and then Windebank should be against her going to Melkbridge.  Her renewed faith in Perigal prevented her from believing that any act of his was responsible for their anxiety in the matter.  She could only conclude that they believed that in journeying to Melkbridge, as she purposed, she ran a great risk of her motherhood being discovered.

The next morning, Mavis set about looking for the new rooms which she had promised Windebank to get.  Now she could afford to pay a reasonable price for accommodation, she was enabled to insist upon good value for the money.  The neat appearance of a house in Cambridge Street, which announced that lodgings were to let, attracted her.  A clean, white-capped servant showed her two comfortably furnished rooms, which were to let at the price Mavis was prepared to pay.  She learned that the landlady was a Mrs Taylor.  Upon asking to see her, a woman, whose face still displayed considerable beauty, glided into the room.

Mrs Taylor spoke in a low, sweet voice; she would like to accommodate Mavis, but she had to be very, very particular:  one had to be so careful nowadays.  Could Mavis furnish references; failing that, would Mavis tell her what place of worship she attended?  Mavis referred Mrs Taylor to Miss Toombs at Melkbridge and Mrs Scatchard at North Kensington, which satisfied the landlady.  When, twenty-four hours later, Mavis moved in, she found that Windebank had already sent in a profusion of wines, meats, fruit and flowers for her use.  She was wishing she could send them back, when Mrs Taylor came into her sitting-room with her hands to her head.

Upon Mavis asking what was amiss, she learned that Mrs Taylor had a violent headache and the only thing that did her any good was champagne, which she could not possibly afford.  Mavis hastened to offer Mrs Taylor a bottle of the two dozen of champagne which were among the things that Windebank had sent in.

Under the influence of champagne, Mrs Taylor became expansive.  She had already noted the abundance with which Mavis was surrounded.

“Have you a gentleman friend, dear?” she presently asked in her soft, caressing voice.

“I have one very dear friend,” remarked Mavis, thinking of Windebank.

“I hope you’re very careful,” remarked Mrs Taylor.

“What do you mean?”

“Excuse my mentioning it, but gentlemen will be gentlemen where a pretty girl is concerned.”

“Thank you, but I am quite, quite safe,” replied Mavis hotly.  “And do you know why?”

Mrs Taylor shook her auburn head.