e put her foot, with some violence, upon the Marquis's most
sensitive corn, at which it was as much as Mavis could do to stop
herself from laughing. All might then have been well, had not the
Marquis presently asked Mavis to put her bare arm into one of the open
worked garments in order that he might critically examine the effect.
In a moment, Mavis was ablaze with indignation; her lips tightened. The
man repeated his request, but he may as well have talked to the moon so
far as Mavis was concerned. The girl felt that, if only she resisted
this unreasonable demand, it would be an act of rebellion against the
conditions of the girls' lives at "Dawes'"; she was sure that only good
would come of her action, and that He, who would not see a sparrow fall
to the ground without caring, would aid her in her single-handed
struggle against infamous oppression.

"I am sorry, sir; but I cannot."

"Cannot?"

"No, sir."

"Anything wrong with your plump, pretty arm?"

"No, sir."

"Then why not do as I wish?"

"Because--because it isn't right, sir."

"Eh!"

The man stared at Mavis, who looked him steadfastly in the eyes. In his
heart of hearts, he respected her scruples; he also admired her spirit.
But for "Madame the Marquise," nothing more would have been said, but
this young person was destined to be an instrument of the fates that
ruled Mavis's life. This chit was already resentful against the
strangely beautiful, self-possessed shop-girl; Mavis's objection to the
Marquis's request was in the nature of a reflection on "Madame the
Marquise's" mode of life. She took her lover aside and urged him to
report to the management Mavis's obstinacy; he resisted, wavered,
surrendered. Mavis saw the Marquis speak to a shopman, of whom he
seemed to be asking her name; he was then conducted upstairs to Mr
Orgles's office, from which he issued, a few minutes later, to be bowed
obsequiously downstairs by the man he had been to see. The Marquis
joined "Madame the Marquise" (who, while waiting, had looked
consciously self-possessed), completed his purchases, and left the shop.

Mavis waited in suspense, expecting every minute to be summoned to
Orgles's presence. She did not regret what she had done, but, as the
hours passed and she was not sent for, she more and more feared the
consequences of her behaviour.

When she came upstairs from tea, she received a message saying that Mr
Orgles wished to see her. Nerving herself for the interv