"Oh, my dear, may an old man say how beautiful you look?"

"Why not?" asked Mavis, whose eyes were shining at the
unexpectedness of the compliment.

Mr Poulter looked at her intently for a few moments before saying:

"Haven't you a father or mother?"

Mavis shook her head.

"Neither kith nor kin?"

"I'm all alone in the world," she replied sadly.

A sorrowful expression came over the old man's face as he said with
much fervour:

"God bless you, my dear. May He keep you from pain and all harm."

Mavis was seized with a sudden impulse. She took the white head in
her warm arms and kissed him fondly on the forehead.

Mr Poulter turned away and pretended to have trouble with one of his
dancing pumps.

A minute or two later, three grimy, uncouth-looking men came into
the hall, whom Mavis took to be gasmen.