the girl next to her.

"What?" replied the girl whom she had spoked to.

Mavis repeated her question.

"There's no such thing; there's only this place open at meal times
and your bedroom."

"Thanks; I'll go there. Good night."

Mavis, carrying her ham paste and sardines, walked the evil-smelling
passage and up the stairs to her room. Once outside the supper-room,
she repented of having had words with Miss Striem, who was,
doubtless, a person of authority; but it was done now, and Mavis
reflected how she had justice and evidence on her side. The bedroom
was empty. Mavis placed the ham paste and sardines on her washing-
stand; she then took advantage of the absence of the other girls to
undress and get into bed. She fell into a heavy slumber, which gave
place to a state of dreamy wakefulness, during which she became
conscious of others being in the room; of hearing herself discussed;
of a sudden commotion in the apartment. A sequence of curious noises
thoroughly awoke her. The unaccustomed sight of three other girls in
the room in which she slept caused her to sit bolt upright. The
girl, Miss Impett, to whom she had already spoken, was sitting on
her bed, yawning as she pulled off her stockings. Another, a fine,
queenly-looking girl, in evening dress, was sitting on a chair with
her hands pressed to her stomach; her eyes were rolling as if she
were in pain. The third girl, also in evening dress, but not so
handsome as the sufferer, was whispering consoling words.