kindly, beaming face and the agile limbs of Mr Poulter. It was a
pleasure to watch him, he so thoroughly enjoyed his work; he could
not take enough pains to instruct his pupils in the steps that they
should take. Miss Nippett sat beside Mavis. Presently, in a few
minutes' interval between the dances, the former said:

"Don't you ever be a fool an' teach dancing."

"Why 'a fool'?" asked Mavis.

"Look at me an' the way I 'obble; it's all the fault of teaching the
'gentlemen.'"

"Indeed!"

"The 'gentlemen' is such clumsy fellers; they always tread on my
right foot. I tried wearing flannel, but they come down on it jess
the same, 'arder if anything."

Soon after nine, Miss Meakin came in, having travelled from "Dawes'"
with all dispatch by the "Tube." She warmly greeted Mavis,
congratulated her on getting employment at "Poulter's," and told her
that, after she (Mavis) had left "Dawes'," the partners had made
every inquiry into her habit of life. Miss Meakin had been summoned
to one of the partner's rooms to say what she knew of the subject,
and had sat near a table on which was lying Mavis's letter; she had
made a note of the address, to write to her directly she was able to
do so.

"We must have a long talk, dear; but not to-night."