debank pointed out that her child's health might be permanently
injured by further residence in unwholesome Halverton Street. Before
Mavis fell in with his request, she stipulated that she was not to pay
more than a pound a week for any rooms she might engage. When she got
back, she was overwhelmed with inquiries from Lil, the girl upstairs,
with reference to "the mug" whom she (Mavis) had captured. But Mavis
scarcely listened to the girl's questions; she was wondering why, first
of all, Miss Toombs and then Windebank should be against her going to
Melkbridge. Her renewed faith in Perigal prevented her from believing
that any act of his was responsible for their anxiety in the matter.
She could only conclude that they believed that in journeying to
Melkbridge, as she purposed, she ran a great risk of her motherhood
being discovered.

The next morning, Mavis set about looking for the new rooms which she
had promised Windebank to get. Now she could afford to pay a reasonable
price for accommodation, she was enabled to insist upon good value for
the money. The neat appearance of a house in Cambridge Street, which
announced that lodgings were to let, attracted her. A clean,
white-capped servant showed her two comfortably furnished rooms, which
were to let at the price Mavis was prepared to pay. She learned that
the landlady was a Mrs Taylor. Upon asking to see her, a woman, whose
face still displayed considerable beauty, glided into the room.

Mrs Taylor spoke in a low, sweet voice; she would like to accommodate
Mavis, but she had to be very, very particular: one had to be so
careful nowadays. Could Mavis furnish references; failing that, would
Mavis tell her what place of worship she attended? Mavis referred Mrs
Taylor to Miss Toombs at Melkbridge and Mrs Scatchard at North
Kensington, which satisfied the landlady. When, twenty-four hours
later, Mavis moved in, she found that Windebank had already sent in a
profusion of wines, meats, fruit and flowers for her use. She was
wishing she could send them back, when Mrs Taylor came into her
sitting-room with her hands to her head.

Upon Mavis asking what was amiss, she learned that Mrs Taylor had a
violent headache and the only thing that did her any good was
champagne, which she could not possibly afford. Mavis hastened to offer
Mrs Taylor a bottle of the two dozen of champagne which were among the
things that Windebank had sent in.

Under the influence of champagne, Mrs Ta