CHAPTER THREE

FRIENDS IN NEED


Mavis scrambled out of the train, just in time to prevent herself
from being carried on to the next stopping--place. She smoothed her
ruffled plumage and looked about her. She found the station much
smaller than she had believed it to be; she hardly remembered any of
its features, till the scent of the stocks planted in the station-
master's garden assisted her memory. She gave up her ticket, and
looked about her, thinking that very likely she would be met, if not
by a member of the Devitt family, by some conveyance; but, beyond
the station 'bus and two or three farmers' gigs, there was nothing
in the nature of cart or carriage. She asked the hobbledehoy, who
took her ticket, where Mrs Devitt lived, at which the youth looked
at her in a manner that evidently questioned her sanity at being
ignorant of such an important person's whereabouts. Mavis repeated
her question more sharply than before. The ticket-collector looked
at her open--mouthed, glanced up the road and then again to Mavis,
before saying:

"Here her be."

"Mrs Devitt?"