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Updated: May 29, 2025
With the exception of her brief acquaintance with Windebank, she had never before enjoyed the society of a man, who was a gentleman, on equal terms. And Windebank was coming home unharmed from the operations in which he had won distinction; she had read of his brave doings from time to time in the papers: she rejoiced to learn that he had not forgotten her.
"When he was last at home, he was often about with Sir Archibald Windebank." "I know him too," declared Mavis. "Nonsense!" "Why shouldn't I? His father was my father's oldest friend." Miss Hunter winced; she stared fixedly at Mavis, with eyes in which admiration and envy were expressed. Later, when Mavis was leaving for the day, Miss Hunter fussed about her with many assurances of regard.
Windebank saw to the luggage and drove Mavis to the barrack-like South-Western Hotel; then, after seeing she had all she wanted, he went to his own hotel to dress for his solitary dinner. He had scarcely finished this meal when he was told that a lady wished to speak to him on the telephone. She proved to be Mavis, who said: "If you've nothing better to do, come and take me out for some air."
"She's not so bad as all that," declared Devitt. "I can't understand why men stand up for loose women," said his wife. "She's not a loose woman: far from it. If she were, Windebank would not be so interested in her." Devitt could not have said anything more calculated to anger the two women. Miss Spraggs threw down her pen, whilst Mrs Devitt became white.
Upon Mavis asking what was amiss, she learned that Mrs Taylor had a violent headache and the only thing that did her any good was champagne, which she could not possibly afford. Mavis hastened to offer Mrs Taylor a bottle of the two dozen of champagne which were among the things that Windebank had sent in. Under the influence of champagne, Mrs Taylor became expansive.
Mavis was not reproaching herself for having got into the cab with Windebank; her mind was full of the strange trick which fate had played her in throwing herself and her old-time playmate together. There seemed design in the action. Perhaps, after all, their meeting was the reply to her prayer in the tea-shop. The cab drove along the almost deserted thoroughfare.
But Windebank pleaded and Miss Toombs wrote to no purpose. Before Windebank had said good-bye at Paddington, he again made Mavis promise that she would not hesitate to communicate at once with him should she meet with further trouble. The gravity with which he made this request awakened disquiet in her mind, which diminished as her proximity to Melkbridge increased.
It was the selfish action of the Devitts, who wished to secure Windebank for their daughter, which had prevented Montague from giving Mavis the message that Windebank had given to him. It was the Devitts who had not taken her into their house, because they feared how she might meet Windebank in Melkbridge.
Nantz is a passable good town, but decayed: some monasteries in it, but none good nor rich. There was in a nunnery, when I was there, a daughter of Secretary Windebank. There is English provisions, and of all sorts, cheap and good. We hired a boat to carry us up to Orleans, and we were towed up all the river of Loire so far.
"Then we come to to-day," continued Windebank. "The least said of to-day the better." "I'm not so sure; it may have the happiest results." "Don't talk nonsense." "Do let me go on. Assuming you were little Mavis, where do I find her eh?" Here Windebank's face hardened. "That woman ought to be shot," he cried. "As it is, I've a jolly good mind to show her up. And to think she got you there!" "Ssh!"
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