ild or to have one and lose it."

Mavis grasped the arm of the chair for support.

"What's the matter?" he asked, alarmed.

"What you said. Don't, don't say I'm dissatisfied any more."

Thus Mavis and those nearest to her learned of the alteration in her
fortunes.

Mavis was not long in discovering that the command of money provided
her with a means of escape from the prepossessions afflicting her mind.
The first thing she did was to summon the most renowned nerve
specialists to Melkbridge, where they held a lengthy consultation in
respect of Harold's physical condition. Mavis was anxious to know if
anything could be done to strengthen the slender thread of his life;
she was much distressed to learn that the specialists' united skill
could do nothing to stay the pitiless course of his disease. This
verdict provided a further sorrow for Mavis, which she had to keep
resolutely to herself, inasmuch as she told Harold that the doctors had
spoken most favourably of the chances of his obtaining considerable
alleviation of his physical distresses.

"And then you regret my coming into all this money, when it can do so
much for you," she said, with a fine assumption of cheerfulness.

To get some distraction from her many troubles, Mavis next set about
seeking out all the people who had ever been kind to her in order that
they should benefit from her good fortune.

It did not take her long to discover that Miss Annie Mee was dead; but
for all she and her solicitors were able to do, they could find no
trace of 'Melia. Mavis paid Mr Poulter's debts, gave him a present of a
hundred pounds (endowing the academy he called it), and, in memory of
Miss Nippett, she gave "Turpsichor" two fine new coats of paint. Mavis
also discovered where Miss Nippett was buried, and, finding that the
grave had no headstone, she ordered one. To Mrs Scatchard and her niece
she made handsome presents, and gave Mr Napper a finely bound edition
of the hundred best books; whilst Mr and Mrs Trivett were made
comfortable for life. Mavis was unable to find two people she was
anxious to help. These were the "Permanent" and the "Lil" of Halverton
Street days. One day, clad in shabby garments, she went to Mrs Gowler's
address at New Cross to get news of the former. But the house of evil
remembrance was to let; a woman at the next door house told Mavis that
Mrs Gowler had been arrested and had got ten years for the misdeeds
which the police had at last been