company."

"I'd like to see the bedroom."

Mrs Ellis took Mavis upstairs, where the girl was delighted to find
that the room was pleasant-looking and scrupulously clean.

"It's only a question of terms," said Mavis hesitatingly.

"You'd better see the sitting-room and try the piano, miss, before
you decide," remarked Mrs Ellis.

They went downstairs to another room at the back of the house; this
was adequate, although Mavis noticed that it was stuffy. Perhaps the
landlady suspected the girl's thoughts on the matter, for she said:

"I have the window shut to keep out dust and smell from the yard,
miss."

Mavis, satisfied with this explanation, looked through the window,
and saw that the yard was much bigger than she had believed it to
be. Three or four men in corduroys were lounging about and chaffing
each other.

"You try the piano, miss; I shan't keep you a moment," said Mrs
Ellis, who, also, had looked out of the window.

Mavis, left to herself, did as she was bid. She found the piano,
although well past its prime, to be better than the generality of
those that she had already tried. She got up and again looked out of