elax his hold. Mr Napper made as if he would approach Miss Jennings,
but was restrained by Miss Meakin, who stamped angrily on his corns,
and, when he danced with pain, stared menacingly at him. When he
recovered, Miss Jennings begged him to tell her character by her face.

Mr Napper, looking out of the corner of one eye at Miss Meakin, stared
attentively at Miss Jennings, who was now fully conscious of the
attention she was attracting. Mr Webb waited in suspense, with his eye
on Mr Napper's face.

"You're very fond of draughts," said the latter presently.

"Right!" cried Miss Jennings, as she smiled triumph antly at her lover.

"But I shouldn't say you was much good at 'huffing,'" he continued.

"Right again!" smiled the delighted Miss Jennings.

"I should say your 'eart governed your 'ead," came next.

"Quite right!" cried Miss Jennings, who was now quite perked up.

"You're very fond of admiration," exclaimed Mr Napper, after a further
pause.

"She isn't; she isn't," cried Mr Webb, as his hold tightened on the
loved one's form.

More was said by Mr Napper in the same strain, which greatly increased
not only Miss Jennings's sense of self-importance, but her interest in
Mr Napper.

As Mavis perceived how his ridiculous talk captivated Miss Jennings, it
occurred to her that the vanity of women was such, that this instance
of one of their number being impressed by a foolish man's silly
conversation was only typical of the manner in which the rest of the
sex were fascinated.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

MISS 'PETT'S APOTHEOSIS

Mavis was seriously alarmed for Miss Nippett. Her friend was so ill
that she insisted upon a doctor being called in. After examining the
patient, he told her that Miss Nippett was suffering from acute
influenza; also, that complications were threatening. He warned Mavis
of the risk of catching the disease, which, in her present condition,
might have serious consequences; but she had not the heart to leave her
friend to the intermittent care of the landlady. With the money that
Miss Nippett instructed her to find in queer hiding-places, Mavis
purchased bovril, eggs, and brandy, with which she did her best to
patch up the enfeebled frame of the sick woman. Nothing that she or the
doctor could do had any permanent effect; every evening, Miss Nippett's
temperature would rise with alarming persistence.

"I wonder if she's anything on her mind that might account for it," the
doctor s