m. The atmosphere of the apartment next compelled
attention; it was a combination of gas (the burner leaked), stale body
linen, cheap scents and soapsuds; it stuck in her throat and made her
cough.

"Is that Pongo?" asked the girl, who was still staring out of the
window.

"It's me," said Mavis.

"Eh!"

The girl brought her body into the room. Mavis saw a girl who would
have had a fine figure if she had been two or three inches taller. She
was swarthy, with red lips and fine eyes; she was dressed in showy but
cheap evening finery.

"Common and vulgar-minded," was Mavis's mental comment as she looked at
this person.

"Are you the new girl?" the stranger asked.

"Yes."

"I took you for Bella, the slavey. Sorry! Pleased to meet you."

"Thank you."

"Have you just come in from outside?"

"Yes."

"You didn't see anything of a gentleman in a big motor car?"

"No."

"I'm expecting my boy in one. He promised to call for me in his motor
car to-night and take me out to dinner and supper," continued the girl.

"I'm rather hungry too," remarked Mavis.

"Are you going out to dinner and supper?"

"Don't they give supper here?"

"They do," answered the girl, emphasising the last word, as if to
disparage the meal supplied to their young ladies by "Dawes'."

"It will have to be good enough for me," said Mavis, who resented the
patronising manner of the other.

"Excuse me," remarked the dark girl suddenly, as she again craned out
of the window.

"Certainly," said Mavis dryly, as she wondered what had happened to the
boxes she had had sent on earlier in the day.

"No sign of him yet. I'm afraid he's had a breakdown," exclaimed the
girl, after looking down the street for some time, a remark to which
Mavis paid no attention. The girl went on:

"You were speaking of the supper 'Dawes'' supply. I couldn't eat it
myself. I simply lode their food."

"What?" asked Mavis, whose ears had caught the mispronunciation.

"Yes, I simply lode the food they give for supper, the same as Miss
Potter and Miss Allen, the other young ladies who sleep in this room.
Indeed, we can only eat restaurant food in the evenings."

"What's wrong with the supper here?" asked Mavis, nervously thinking of
her hearty appetite and the few shillings that remained after settling
up with Mrs Ellis.

"Taste and try: you've only to go right to the bottom of the 'ouse.
Excuse me."

Here the swarthy young woman leaned so far out of the windo