Mavis looked puzzled; the extravagant eulogy of her conduct seemed
scarcely to be justified.

"You can see Williams is head over ears in love with you. So far,
he's been beastly stand-offish to anyone I put him on to," continued
Mrs Hamilton.

"Indeed!" said Mavis coldly. She disliked Mrs Hamilton's coarse
manner of expressing herself.

Mrs Hamilton did not notice the frown on the girl's forehead, but
went on:

"As for that idea of drinking water, it was a stroke of genius."

"What?"

"My heart went out to you when you insisted on having it, although I
pretended to mind."

Mavis was about to protest her absolute sincerity in the matter,
when Parkins, the maid who had dressed her, came into the room. She
whispered to her mistress, at which Mrs Hamilton rose hurriedly and
said:

"I must leave you for a little time on important business."

"What would you like me to do?" asked Mavis.