of her old-fashioned looking-glass and counted up her
possessions. These amounted to seven pounds, thirteen shillings and
sevenpence halfpenny; in addition to which, there was a quarter's
salary of four pounds ten shillings due to her; also, there was her
fare which Mrs. Devitt had sent, a sum which she was undecided
whether or not to accept. At any other time, Mavis would have
thought that this money would have been ample provision with which
to start life; but her one time ignorance on this matter had been
rudely dissipated by her fruitless search after employment, when she
had first decided to leave Brandenburg College. Beyond her little
store of ready money, she owned a few trinkets which, at the worst,
she could sell for a little; but this was a contingency on which she
would not allow her mind to dwell just now. One or two things she
was determined not to part with; these were her mother's wedding
ring, a locket containing a piece of her father's hair, and a
bracelet which he had given her. The two old ladies would be leaving
for Worthing on the morrow; Amelia was going to Southend-on-Sea for
a fortnight. As Mavis had resolved to sever her long connection with
the college, it was necessary for her to seek lodging elsewhere.

A few minutes later, she set out upon this wearisome quest: she had
never looked for London lodgings before. Although nearly every
window in the less frequented streets displayed a card announcing
that apartments were to let, she soon discovered how difficult it
was to get anything remotely approaching her simple needs. She
required a small bedroom in a house where there was a bathroom;
also, if possible, she wanted the use of a sitting-room with a
passable piano on which she sought permission to give lessons to any
pupils whom she might be successful in getting.