Mavis was the only girl in the room who got next to no sleep. Long
after the other girls had found repose, she lay awake, wide-eyed;
her sudden gust of rage had exhausted her; all the same, her body
quivered with passion whenever she remembered Miss Potter's insult.
But it was the shock of the discovery of the girl's condition which
mostly kept her awake; hitherto, she had been dimly conscious that
such things were; now that they had been forced upon her attention,
she was dazed at their presence in the person of one with whom she
was daily associated. Then she fell to wondering what mysterious
ends of Providence Miss Potter's visitation would serve. The problem
made her head ache. She took refuge in the thought that Miss Potter
was a sparrow, such as she--a sparrow with gaudier and, at the same
time, more bedraggled plumage, but one who, for all this detriment,
could not utterly fall without the knowledge of One who cared. This
thought comforted Mavis and brought her what little sleep she got.

The next morning, Mavis was sent to a City warehouse in order to
match some material that "Dawes'" had not in stock. When she took
her seat on the 'bus, a familiar voice cried:

"There's 'B. C.'"

"Miss Allen."

"That's what we all call you, 'cos you're so innocent. If you're off
to the warehouse, it's where I'm bound."

"We can go together," remarked Mavis.