“You try the piano, miss; I shan’t keep you a moment,” said Mrs Ellis, who, also, had looked out of the window.

Mavis, left to herself, did as she was bid.  She found the piano, although well past its prime, to be better than the generality of those that she had already tried.  She got up and again looked out of the window, when she saw that the men, whom she had previously seen idling in the yard, were now hard at work.

The next moment, Mrs Ellis, looking rather hot, re-entered the room.

“I’ve had to talk to my men,” she said.

“You employ them?” asked Mavis.

“Yes, the lazy rascals.  It was my husband’s business, but since he died I’ve kept it on.”

“You must be very clever.”

“It wants managing.  You didn’t open the window, miss?” This question was asked anxiously.

“No.”

“How much did you wish to pay, miss?”

Mavis explained that she didn’t wish to pay more than five shillings a week for a bedroom, but after some discussion it was agreed that she should pay six shillings a week, which would include the use of the sitting-room, together with a morning bath, bathrooms not having been supplied to Mrs Ellis’s house.

“I’m letting it go reasonable to you, miss, because you’re a real young lady and not like most who thinks they are.”

“Here’s my first week’s rent in advance.  I can’t say how long I shall stay, because I may get a place where they may want me to live in the house,” said Mavis.

“It isn’t the money I want so much as the company.  And if you’d like me to supply the meals, we shan’t quarrel over L s. d.”

“I’m sure we shan’t.  I shall come in without fail tomorrow morning.”

Mavis then took a bus to Kensington Church; here she got out and walked the few yards necessary to take her to the Kensington Free Library, where she put down the addresses of those advertising situations likely to suit her.  This task completed, she walked to Brandenburg College.  When dinner was over—­the Misses Mee dined midday—­Mavis wrote replies to the advertisements.  After parting with the precious pennies, which bought the necessary stamps at the post-office, she came home to pack her things.  This took her some time, there being so many odds and ends which had accumulated during her many years’ association with the college.  As it was getting dark, she slipped out to tell the nearest local agent for Carter Paterson to have her boxes removed the first thing in the morning.

Hurrying back, she ran into Bella Goss, a pupil at the college, and her father.  Mr. Goss was the person who was behindhand with his account; he supplied Miss Annie Mee with the theatre and concert tickets which were the joy of her life.

“There’s Miss Keeves!” cried Bella, at which her father raised his hat.

Bella, looking as if she wished to speak to Mavis, the latter stopped; she shook hands with the child and bowed to Mr. Goss.