is, as she
wondered if Mr Poulter's suspicions had been aroused by similar
packages having occasionally arrived for her addressed in the same way.

"It was only to be expected. From your professional association with
the academy, they would think it only proper to address you by 'Miss'
and your maiden name," remarked guileless Mr Poulter.

Upon Mavis's third visit to Miss Nippett after her interview with Mr
Poulter, she noticed a change in the sick woman's appearance; she was
sitting up in bed with a face wreathed in smiles.

"'Ave you 'eard?" she cried excitedly, when she saw Mavis.

"Heard what?" asked Mavis innocently.

"'Bout me an' 'Poulter's.' You don't mean to say you 'aven't 'eard!"

"I hope it's good news."

"Good! Good! It's wonderful! Jest you throw your eye over that."

Mavis read a formally worded letter from Mr Poulter, in which he
informed Miss Nippett "that, in consideration of her many years'
faithful service, he could think of no more fitting way to reward her
than by taking her into partnership: in accordance with this resolve,
what was formerly known as 'Poulter's' would in future be described for
all time as 'Poulter and Nippett's.'"

"What d'ye think of that?" asked Miss Nippett.

"It's only what you deserved."

"There's no going back on it now it's in black and white."

"He wouldn't wish to."

"It's proof, ain't it, legal an' all that?"

"Absolute. I congratulate you," said Mavis, as she took the wan white
hand in hers.

"Even now I can't b'lieve it's true," sighed the accompanist, as she
sank exhausted on her pillows.

"You're overdoing it," said Mavis, as she mixed some brandy and milk.

"I 'ate the muck," declared Miss Nippett, when Mavis besought her to
drink it.

"But if you don't do what you're told, you'll never get well."

"Reely!"

"Of course not. Take this at once," Mavis commanded.

"Here, I say, who are you talking to? Have you for gotten I'm a partner
in--" Here the little woman broke off, to exclaim as she burst into
tears: "It's true: it's true: it's reely, reely true."

Before Mavis went home, she soothed Miss Nippett's tears; she left her
in a condition of radiant, enviable happiness. She had never seen
anyone so possessed by calm abiding joy as the accompanist at her
unlooked-for good fortune.

On her way back, Mavis marvelled at what she believed to be the
all-wise arrangements of Providence, by which happiness was parcelled
out to the humblest of h