"I'm glad you've taken it sensible," remarked her landlady. "Many's
the good lodger I've lost through that there window being open."

Tea put fresh heart into Mavis. It was ten days since she had last
called on Mr Goss: she resolved to make a further attempt. He was
in, she learned from the maid-of-all-work, who opened the door of Mr
Goss's house.

On asking to see him, she was shown into a double drawing-room, the
front part of which was tolerably furnished; but Mavis could not
help noticing that the back was quite shabby; unframed coloured
prints, taken from Christmas numbers of periodicals, were fastened
to the walls with tin tacks.

Mr Goss came into the room wiping his mouth with his handkerchief.
Mavis feared that she had interrupted a meal. Whether she had or
not, he was glad to see her and asked if he could help her. Mavis
told him how she was situated. In reply, he said that he had a
friend who was a man of some importance in a West-end emporium. He
asked her if she would like a letter of introduction to this person.
Mavis jumped at the offer. When he had written the letter, Mavis
asked after his daughter, to learn that she was staying at Margate
with her mother. When Mavis thanked and said good-bye to Mr Goss, he
warmly pressed the hand that she offered.

The next day, she presented herself at the great house of business
where Mr Goss's friend was to be found. His name was Evans. It was
only after delay that she was able to see him. He was a grave,
kindly-looking man, who scanned Mavis with interest before he read