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Ordinarily, she had been enabled to make them palatable with the help of vinegar, mustard, or even with an onion; but tonight none of these resources were at hand with which to make appetising the soapy compound on her plate. Miss Striem, the dark little woman at the head of the table, noted her disinclination to tackle the cheese.
Mavis was, for the moment, taken aback by Miss Striem's vehemence. The girl next to her whispered, "Go it," under her breath. "You call me a cheat?" repeated Miss Striem. "I shall say what I have to say to the management," replied Mavis coolly. "And I'll thay what I have to thay; and you'll find out who is believed in a way you won't like."
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 put some of the paste on to her plate; it looked unusual, even for potted meat; but ascribing its appearance to the effect of the light, Mavis spread some on a bit of bread and put this in her mouth. Only for a moment; the next, she had removed it with her handkerchief. One of the girls tittered. Miss Striem looked sharply in this person's direction. "I can't eat this: it's bad!" cried Mavis.
"I beg your pardon," remarked Miss Striem severely. "They're bad too. I'm not going to eat them." "You'll have to pay for them juth the thame." "What?" cried Mavis. "If you order, you pay. Ith a rule in the houth," said Miss Striem, as if the matter were forthwith dismissed from her mind. "To sell girls bad food?" asked Mavis.
She could not help noticing that she was the object of much remark to the other girls present, her words with Miss Striem on the previous evening having attracted much attention. After breakfast, Mavis was taken upstairs to the department in which she was to work.
"Perhaps you would prefer a thardine." "Anything, so long as it's fit to eat." Some of the girls raised their eyebrows at this remark. All of them were more or less frightened of Miss Striem, the housekeeper. An opened tin of sardines was set before Mavis. She had only to glance inside to see that its contents were mildewed. "Thanks," she said, pushing the tin away.
Mavis was disposed to rebel against the unwritten rule that seats are not to be made use of, but a moment's reflection convinced her of the unwisdom of such a proceeding. Later on in the morning, Miss Meakin said to Mavis: "I hear you had a dust up with old Striem last night." Mavis told her the circumstances. "She's an awful beast and makes no end of money out of the catering.
An' speaking of Gawd, it's nice to 'ave Someone yer know as cares for you, though you can't never see 'Im or walk out with 'Im." From this time, she tried to do Bella many little kindnesses, but, saving this one instance, the servant was always on her guard and never again opened her heart to Mavis. Miss Striem did not carry out her threat of charging Mavis for the extras she refused to eat.
"I shall prove my case," retorted Mavis, as she grabbed the ham paste and the tin of sardines. Miss Striem sat down. A giggle ran round the table. "Can you tell me where the sitting-room is, please?" Mavis asked of the girl next to her. "What?" replied the girl whom she had spoked to. Mavis repeated her question.
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