whom I let my rooms."

"If I thought they weren't respectable, I shouldn't have come here,"
retorted Mavis.

Mrs Farthing winced, but recovered herself.

"Since I have been resident at Pennington Cottage, one colonel,
three doctors, two lawyers, seven reverends, and one banker have
visited here."

"I'm glad to see others appreciate you," remarked Mavis.

"Professional gentlemen and their ladies take to me at once. Did you
tell me your uncle was a reverend?"

"No, I did not," replied Mavis, who was beginning to lose patience.

"You see, my father being a sea captain--"

"I can't see how that's anything to do with letting lodgings," said
Mavis.

"Pardon me, it raises the question of references."

"Of course, I must have yours. I have only your word for the sort of
people you've had here."

Mrs Farthing looked at Mavis in astonishment; she was unaccustomed
to being tackled in this fashion.