ersary of the
day on which I had my first lot of new teeth, which gave me such
dreadful pain."

"What's wrong?"

"That Mrs Budd. I took a dislike to her directly I saw her."

Mavis stared at Mrs Trivett in surprise.

"I do hope you'll be comfortable," continued Mrs Trivett. "But I fear
you won't be. She looks the sort of person who would give anyone damp
sheets and steal the sugar."

Mrs Trivett said more to the same effect. Mavis, remembering Mrs Budd's
behaviour to her, could scarcely keep back a smile; it was the first
time since her illness that anything had appeared at all amusing.

But this was not the sum of Mrs Trivett's resentment against Mrs Budd.
After the meal was over, she rejoined Mavis with perspiration dropping
from her forehead.

"The kitchen's like an oven, and I've nearly been roasted," complained
Mrs Trivett. "And her horrid old husband is there, who can't do
anything for himself."

"Why didn't you leave before you got so hot?" asked Mavis.

"It's that there Mrs Budd's fault. She's only one tooth, and it takes
her all her time to eat."

"I meant, why didn't you leave so that you could finish eating in here?"

"I didn't like to, ma'am, but if you wouldn't very much mind in
future---"

"By all means, eat with me if you wish it."

"Thank you kindly. I'm sure that woman and me would come to blows
before many days was over."

Mavis rested for the remainder of the day and only saw Mrs Budd during
the few minutes in which the table was being either laid or cleared
away; but these few minutes were enough for the landlady to tell Mavis
pretty well everything of moment in her life. Mavis learned how Mrs
Budd's husband had been head gardener to a neighbouring baronet, until
increasing infirmities had compelled him to give up work; also, that as
he had spent most of his life in hot-houses, the kitchen had always to
have a big fire blazing in order that the old man might have the heat
necessary for his comfort. It appeared that Mrs Budd's third daughter
had died from curvature of the spine. The mother related with great
pride how that, just before death, the girl's spine had formed the
figure of a perfect "hess." Mavis was also informed that Mrs Budd could
not think of knowing her next-door neighbour, because this person paid
a penny a pound less for her suet than she herself did.

When Mavis was going upstairs to bed, she came upon Mrs Budd
laboriously dragging her husband, a big, heavy man,