her friend Miss Allen.

Mavis was delighted to find the room vacant. The odour of drugs
mingled with the other smells of the chamber, which she mitigated,
in some measure, by opening the window as far as she was able. She
pulled off her tight boots, enjoying for some moments a pleasurable
sense of relief; then she tumbled into bed, soon to fall asleep. She
was awakened by the noise of voices raised in altercation. Miss
Potter and Miss Impett were having words. The girls were in bed,
although no one had troubled to turn off the flaring jet. As they
became more and more possessed with the passion for effective
retort, Mavis saw vile looks appearing on their faces: these
obliterated all traces of youth and comeliness, substituting in
their stead a livid commonness.

"We know all about you!" cried loud-voiced Miss Impett.

"Happily, that's not a privilege desired in your case," retorted
Miss Potter.

"And why not?" Miss Impett demanded to know.

"We might learn too much."

"What does anyone know of me that I'm ashamed of?" roared Miss
Impett.

"That's just it."

"Just what?"