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For his part, he was quickly sensible of the feminine distinction which Mavis's presence bestowed upon his home. Mrs Harold Devitt's appearance and parts gave to his assemblies a piquancy which was sadly lacking when his friends repaid his hospitality.
Mrs Devitt's words likewise meant that, if Mavis were charming or pretty, her prospects of securing an engagement would be of the slenderest. Mavis, ignorant of these considerations, was driven to the door of Melkbridge House. On getting out of the cart, the front door was opened by Hayter, the fat butler, who showed her into the drawing-room.
"Yes, at Melkbridge Court." "I don't know what time you go back, but, after luncheon of course you'll stay you might take the opportunity of your being down here to have a look at the old place." "I I might," faltered Mavis, who suddenly felt as if all the happiness had been taken out of her life; for Miss Devitt's words hinted that her family was not going to keep Mavis at Melkbridge House.
With an effort she continued: "I don't know what you all think of me I haven't tried to think but I'm worse oh! ever so much worse than you believe." The others wondered what revelations were toward. Devitt's mind went back to the night when Mavis had last stood in the drawing-room. Mavis went on: "When I was away my heart was filled with hate: I hated you all and longed to be revenged."
"Possibly for years. I'm coming to work here." "Work!" "In the office of one of Mr Devitt's companies." The man assumed an air of some deference. "Mr Devitt! Our leading inhabitant sings baritone," remarked the station-master. "Indeed!" "A fair voice, but a little undisciplined in the lower register. This is quite between ourselves." "Of course. Do you think you can help me to find rooms?"
Sir Frederick scarcely spoke to anyone else but Mavis throughout dinner; at the end of the evening, he asked her if she advised him to join Devitt's venture. Mavis's behaviour formed the subject of a complaint made by Mrs Devitt when alone with Montague in their bedroom. "Didn't you notice the shameless way she behaved?" asked Mrs Devitt. "Nonsense!" replied her well-pleased lord.
She brought out, instead, the letter the foreman had put into her hand when she was leaving in reply to Mrs Trivett's summons. The envelope of this was addressed in Mr Devitt's hand. "Here's a letter from him here," declared Mavis, as she tore it open to glance at its contents before passing it on to Hutton.
Although Mavis's hair and colouring might only appeal to a certain order of taste, the girl's distinction, to which one of the Miss Mees had alluded earlier in the day, was glaringly patent to Mrs Devitt's sharp eyes; beside this indefinable personal quality, Mrs Devitt observed with a shudder, Victoria seemed middle-class.
One was from Miss Toombs's business acquaintance, offering her a berth at twenty-eight shillings a week; the other was from Montague Devitt, confirming the offer he had made Mavis at Paddington. Devitt's letter told her that she could resume work on the following Monday fortnight. It did not take Mavis the fraction of a second to decide which of the two offers she would accept.
With this advice Mrs Devitt had to be content, but for all the comfort it may have contained it was a long time before husband or wife fell asleep that night. But even the short period of twenty-four hours is enough to accustom people to trouble sufficiently to make it tolerable. When this time had passed, Mrs Devitt's mind was well used to the news which yesterday afternoon's post had brought.