looking out of the window, as she wondered if the peas, that were to
accompany a roast duckling at luncheon, would be as hard and as
unappetising as they had been when served two days previously.

This was later in the day. Just now, Mavis was about to be taken
down to luncheon by Montague Devitt; she wondered if her defence of
dear Jill had prejudiced her chance of an engagement.

"What's that picture covered with a shutter for?" asked Mavis, as
her eye fell on the padlocked "Etty."

"Oh, well-it's an 'Etty': some people might think it's scarcely the
thing for some young people, you know," replied Devitt, as they
descended the stairs.

"Really! Is that why it's kept like that?" asked Mavis, who could
scarcely conceal her amusement.

Mrs Devitt, who was immediately behind, had detected the note of
merriment in Mavis's voice. "Scarcely a pure-minded girl," she said
to herself, unconscious of the fact that there is nothing so
improper as the thoughts implied by propriety.

It was not a very pleasant time for Mavis. Although the luncheon was
a good meal, and served in a manner to which she had been
unaccustomed for many years, she did not feel at home with the
Devitts. Montague, the head of the house, she disliked least; no one
could be long insensible to his goodness of heart. Already, she
could not "stand" Lowther, for the reason that he hardly took his
eyes from her face. As for the women, she was soon conscious of the