"You play and sing?" asked Mrs Hamilton.

"A little."

"That always helps. And as to terms, if we get along well together,
you'll be grateful to me till the day of your death."

Although the words were spoken without a suspicion of feeling, Mavis
replied:

"I'm sure I shall."

"Here we are!" said Mrs Hamilton.

Mavis was much surprised that no word had been said about
references.

A man-servant opened the door. Mavis passed in with Mrs Hamilton,
for whom a telegram was waiting.

"Dinner at eight to-night, Jarvis; an hour earlier than usual. Lay
for four," said Jarvis's mistress, after opening the telegram.

"Yes, ma'am," replied Jarvis, as Mrs Hamilton walked upstairs to the
drawing-room, followed by Mavis.

Accustomed as Mavis had been of late to bed-sitting rooms or shabby
lodging-house parlours, her first glimpse of Mrs Hamilton's richly-
furnished drawing-room almost took away her breath. It was not so
much the richness of the furniture which astonished her, as the