I'm any different, it's because I'm not built
that way."
Mavis was the only girl in the room who got next to no sleep. Long
after the other girls had found repose, she lay awake, wide-eyed; her
sudden gust of rage had exhausted her; all the same, her body quivered
with passion whenever she remembered Miss Potter's insult. But it was
the shock of the discovery of the girl's condition which mostly kept
her awake; hitherto, she had been dimly conscious that such things
were; now that they had been forced upon her attention, she was dazed
at their presence in the person of one with whom she was daily
associated. Then she fell to wondering what mysterious ends of
Providence Miss Potter's visitation would serve. The problem made her
head ache. She took refuge in the thought that Miss Potter was a
sparrow, such as she--a sparrow with gaudier and, at the same time,
more bedraggled plumage, but one who, for all this detriment, could not
utterly fall without the knowledge of One who cared. This thought
comforted Mavis and brought her what little sleep she got.
The next morning, Mavis was sent to a City warehouse in order to match
some material that "Dawes'" had not in stock. When she took her seat on
the 'bus, a familiar voice cried:
"There's 'B. C.'"
"Miss Allen."
"That's what we all call you, 'cos you're so innocent. If you're off to
the warehouse, it's where I'm bound."
"We can go together," remarked Mavis.
"I say, you were a brick last night," said Miss Allen, after the two
girls had each paid for their tickets.
"I'm only sorry for her."
"She'll be all right."
"Will he marry her, then?" asked Mavis.
"Good old 'B. C.'! Don't be a juggins; her boy's married already."
"Married!" gasped Mavis.
"Yes!" laughed Miss Allen. "And with a family."
When Mavis got over her astonishment at this last bit of information,
she remarked:
"But you said she would be all right."
"So she will be, with luck," declared Miss Allen.
"What--what on earth do you mean?"
"What I say. Why, if every girl who got into trouble didn't get out of
it, I don't know what would happen."
Mavis wondered what the other meant. Miss Allen continued:
"It's all a question of money and knowing where to go."
"Where to go?" echoed Mavis, who was more amazed than before.
"Of course, there's always a risk. That's how a young lady at 'Dawes''
died last year. But the nursing home she was in managed to hush it up."
Mavis showe
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