looked at her surprised, when her hostess said:

"You're prettier than ever. When I first saw you, I was delighted to
think you were 'going off.'"

Mavis, regardless what others might think of her, lit the cigarette.
Although she took deep, grateful puffs, which she wholly enjoyed, she
soon let it go out; neither did she trouble to relight it, nor did she
pay any attention to Miss Toombs's remarks. Mavis's physical content
was by no means reflected in her mind. Her conscience was deeply
troubled by the fact of her having, as it were, sailed with her
benefactress under false colours.

Her cogitations were interrupted by Miss Toombs putting a box of
expensive cigarettes (which she had got from the waiter) in her hand.

"Why are you so good to me?" asked Mavis.

"I've always really liked you."

"You wouldn't if you knew."

"Knew what?"

"Come. I'll show you."

After Miss Toombs had settled with the waiter, they left the
restaurant. Miss Toombs accompanied Mavis along the Wilton Road and
Denbigh Street. Halverton Street was presently reached. Mavis opened
the door of Mrs Gussle's; with set face, she walked the passage to her
room, followed by plain Miss Toombs. She unlocked the door of this and
made way for her friend to enter. Clothes hung to dry from ropes
stretched across the room: the baby slept in his rough, soap-box cradle.

Miss Toombs seemed to disregard the appearance of the room; her eyes
sought the baby sleeping in the box.

"There!" cried Mavis. "Now you know."

"A baby!" gasped Miss Toombs.

"You've been kind to me. I had to let you know."

"Oh, you damn beast!" cried Miss Toombs.

Mavis looked at her defiantly.

"Oh, you damn beast!" cried Miss Toombs again. "You were always lucky!"

"Lucky!" echoed Mavis.

"To go and have a little baby and not me. Oh, it's too bad: too bad!"

Mavis looked inquiringly at her friend to see if she were sincere. The
next moment, the two foolish women were weeping happy tears in each
other's arms over the unconscious, sleeping form of Mavis's baby.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

MISS TOOMBS REVEALS HERSELF

"Fancy you being like this," said Mavis, when she had dried her eyes.

"Like what?"

"Not minding my having a baby without being married."

"I'm not such a fool as to believe in that 'tosh,'" declared Miss
Toombs.

"What 'tosh,' as you call it?"

"About thinking it a disgrace to have a child by the man you love."

"Isn't it?"

"How can it b