to recover her spirits.

"Although I believe my cowardice is justified," declared Miss Toombs.
"I haven't a friend or relation in the world. If I were to get ill, or
lose my job to-morrow, I've no one to turn to. I've a bad circulation
and get indigestion whenever I eat meat. I've only one pleasure in
life, and I do all I know to keep my job so that I can indulge in it."

"What's that?"

"You'll laugh when I tell you."

"Nothing that gives a human being innocent pleasure can be ridiculous,"
remarked Mavis.

"My happiness comes in winter," declared Miss Toombs. "I love nothing
better than to go home and have tea and hot buttered toast before the
blazing fire in my bed-sitting room. Then, about seven, I make up the
fire and go to bed with my book and hot-water bottles. It's stuffy, but
it's my idea of heaven."

Mavis did not offer any comment.

"Now laugh at me," said Miss Toombs.

Instead of doing any such thing, Mavis bent over to kiss Miss Toombs's
cheek.

"No one's ever wanted to kiss me before," complained Miss Toombs.

"Because you've never let anyone know you as you really are," rejoined
Mavis.

"Now we've talked quite enough about me. Let's hear a little more about
yourself."

"My history is written in this room."

"Don't talk rot. I suppose it all happened when you went away for your
holidays last year?"

"You didn't think--"

"No. I didn't think you had the pluck."

"It doesn't require much of that."

"Doesn't it? There are loads of girls, nice girls too, who'd do as
you've done to-morrow if they only dared," declared Miss Toombs. "And
why not?" she added defiantly.

"You take my breath away," laughed Mavis.

"Don't laugh, dear. It's much too serious to laugh at," remonstrated
Miss Toombs. "We're here for such a short time, and so much of that is
taken up with youth and age and illness and work that it's our duty to
get as much happiness as we can. And if two people love each other--"

"The woman can be brought down to this."

"And wasn't it worth it?" cried Miss Toombs hotly.

"Worth it!" echoed Mavis.

"Didn't you have a lovely time when you were away?"

"Heavenly!"

"Didn't he kiss your hands and feet and hair and tell you you were the
most beautiful woman in the whole world, as they do in books?"

Mavis nodded.

"And didn't he hold you to his heart all the night through, and didn't
you think you were in heaven? No--no, don't tell me. It would make me
miserable and jealo