"I hope we shall all be great friends and work together
comfortably."

"Thank you," replied Mavis, at which Miss Hunter proceeded to
instruct her in her duties. These were of the kind usually allotted
to clerical beginners, and consisted of the registering, indexing,
and sorting of all letters received in the course of the day.

Mavis worked with a will; her bold, unaffected handwriting
emphasised the niggling scrawliness of Miss Hunter's previous
entries in the book.

"Don't work so fast," said Miss Hunter presently, at which Mavis
looked up in surprise.

"If you do, you won't have anything to go on with," continued Miss
Hunter.

About eleven, Mavis learned from Mr Gaby that Mr. Devitt would like
to see her. The manager conducted Mavis to the board room, where she
found Mr Devitt standing before the fire. Directly he saw her, he
came forward with outstretched hand.

"Good morning, Miss Keeves. Why--" He paused, to look at her with
some concern.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"You're different. If I may say so, you look so much more grown up."