got into a scrape for love
of a man, my heart went out to you and I wanted to help you."

Mavis bent over to kiss her friend before saying: "I only hope I live
to do you a good turn."

"You've done it already by making friends with me. But isn't Hunter a
pig?"

"I hate her," said Mavis emphatically.

"She tried to get my time for her holidays, but it's now arranged that
she goes away when I get back."

"Where is she going?" asked Mavis absently.

"Cornwall."

"Cornwall? Which part?"

"South, I believe. Why?"

"Curiosity," replied Mavis.

Then Miss Toombs told Mavis the rest of the Melkbridge news. She
learned how Mr and Mrs Trivett had given up Pennington Farm and were
now living in Melkbridge, where Miss Toombs had heard that they had a
hard struggle to get along. Miss Toombs mentioned several other names
well known to Mavis; but she did not speak of Charlie Perigal.

It was a long time before Mavis slept that night. She had long and
earnestly thanked her Heavenly Father for having sent kindly Miss
Toombs to help her in her distress. She then lay awake for quite a long
while, wondering why Miss Toombs had been against her going to
Melkbridge. Vague, intangible fears hovered about her, which were
associated with her lover and his many promises to marry her. He also
was at Melkbridge. Mavis tried to persuade herself that Miss Toombs's
objection to her going to the same place could have nothing in common
with the fact of her lover's presence there.

The next morning, while the two friends were breakfasting, Mavis again
spoke of the matter.

"I can't make out why you were so against my going to Melkbridge," she
said.

"Have you been worrying about it?" asked Miss Toombs.

"Yes. Is there any reason why I shouldn't go back?"

"You great big silly! The reason why I didn't want you to go there is
because I might get you a better job in town."

"But you told me last night you were friendless. Friendless girls can't
get others work in town. So don't try and get over me by saying that."

Miss Toombs explained how the manager of a London house, which had
extensive dealings with Devitt's boot factory, was indebted to her for
certain crooked business ways that she had made straight. She told
Mavis that she had gone to see this man on Mr Devitt's behalf since she
had been in town, and that he was anxious to keep in her good books.
She thought that a word from her would get Mavis employment.

Mavis thanked he